Doctors at Regions Hospital on Sunday in St. Paul removed the breathing tube from burn victim Ralph Yotter.

His wife, Pat, said his lungs have cleared and he is breathing on his own. He remains in the intensive care unit and, she said, is improving every day. He has been at Regions since June 8.

Ralph suffered burns as a result of a house explosion June 8 a mile north of Freeborn. The explosion was caused by sewage gas. He turns 76 on Aug. 12.

Pat said he has had skin grafts on his arms, fingers and the back of his legs, and they are healing well. She said other burned skin that didn’t need grafting also appears to be healing well. She said his face was spared because the explosion was from below. She said he told her that the explosion pushed him upward nearly to the ceiling, so that his face was the farthest part of his body from the blast.