OAKLAND — Cliff Hannon was described Monday as someone who moves heaven and earth to help others.

As president of the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club, Hannon coordinates a mini golf tournament and Christmas wreath sales, volunteers at Kringleville in Waterville, helps organize a youth mental health outreach program and a veterans swim program, and promotes literacy efforts.

“He reminds us all the time that our foundation mission is to eradicate polio,” said Kelly Roderick, a fellow Rotary member and Oakland town councilor.

On Thursday, the well-known 66-year-old was seriously injured by an explosion that leveled his house at 36 Lakeview Drive. Hannon remained in critical condition Monday at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, a hospital spokesman said.

Roderick said Hannon has burns covering 45% of his body, as well as several broken bones.

“The last update I heard last night was that his kidney function had improved,” she said. “He is scheduled for his first surgery this week, but I don’t know what day. I still can’t believe that this all happened.”

Investigators say they suspect a propane leak caused the explosion, but Shannon Moss, spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Public Safety, said Monday the cause remains under investigation. Up to five area homes were damaged from explosion debris, she said.

At the scene Monday, the property looked like a war zone, with wood, insulation, twisted metal, furniture and other debris thrown not only on the Hannon property, but across the street, on neighboring lots and even in the trees.

Bethany Marshall-Gibson, who lives four houses away, recalled that power went out for about 1 1/2 hours Thursday afternoon. Then, at 3:25 p.m., she heard a loud bang and a picture fell off the wall next to her. She raced out into the driveway.

“I could hear screaming — multiple high-pitched female voices — people coming out of their houses,” she said.

Her husband, Shawn Gibson, was near the Hannon property on his tractor when the explosion occurred, she said.

“He instinctively leaned forward and he felt the blast and the heat,” she said. “He was the first one to reach Cliff.”

Marshall-Gibson said one might think people would run away from such a blast, but in this case, the neighbors ran toward the Hannon property to try to help.

“We’re all connected, all the way down the road,” she said. “Everybody supports one another. We were all calling and checking on one another. This is like the best neighborhood, and we’re all devastated.”

She remembered sirens blaring and firetrucks rushing to the street. Her son, Randy Marshall, a firefighter and police officer for both the Oakland fire and police departments who also is manager of Waterville Regional Airport, also arrived at the scene.

Marshall-Gibson has lived in her house since 1993 and says the neighbors all know each other’s pets’ names and always say hello when they meet on the street. The explosion has rocked the neighborhood, literally and figuratively, she said.

Hannon, a financial advisor, was home alone when the blast occurred. His wife, Dale, was in Florida, and their son, a doctor, was also away. Both returned to Maine when they got the news, according to Roderick.

The Hannons’ dog, Millie, was injured in the explosion but was treated by a veterinarian and is back with Dale, who is staying with her sister in the Portland area, Roderick said. Dale is a retired teacher who taught health at the junior high-middle school level and had Roderick as a student, Roderick said.

Cliff Hannon has been a Rotary member for 33 years, according to Roderick, who said he has served as president for the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club several times. The club meets at 7:10 a.m. Thursdays at the Alfond Youth & Community Center in Waterville.

“He keeps coming up as president because he’s that kind of guy,” she said. “He won’t let it go uncovered. Rotary means everything to him. Civic engagement means everything to him. If he’s not at a chamber event or Rotary event within 100 miles, he’s with his family, he’s playing golf with his family.”

Roderick said Hannon is also heavily involved in the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce and keeps track of what other Rotary clubs are doing, always willing to help when they need it.

“I don’t think you’ll ever find anyone say an ill word against Cliff,” she said. “He cares about others first.”

Hannon’s road to recovery will be long, Roderick said, but he is a fighter and she is certain he will get better and resume his charitable work.

“He’s not going to give up — he’s got too much to do,” she said.

The Rotary Club has set up a Venmo account for Hannon and his family at Hannon-Family. People also may donate by mailing checks to the Waterville Sunrise Rotary Club at P.O. Box 1763, Waterville, ME. 04901, c/o Hannon Family.