1 dead after fire and explosions at Chester County, Pennsylvania home
One person was killed after a fire and multiple explosions at a home in Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, on Friday morning.
Elverson-Honey Brook Area EMS said crews were dispatched to the fire just before 5 a.m. on the 200 block of Hunter's Run Road.
Firefighters arrived and saw a large column of smoke coming from the fire, and went after it as a defensive operation – trying to prevent the fire from spreading.
The house collapsed due to the fire and one person was found dead at the scene. Pennsylvania State Police confirmed the person died as a result of the fire and explosions but has not released any details about the victim.
The fire was placed under control just after 6 a.m. and an ambulance cleared the scene just before 8 a.m.
Several neighboring fire companies responded including the East Brandywine Fire Company and Pennsylvania State Police.
Neighbors said they heard at least three explosions at the home and were awakened by the noise.
"It was just like a big boom," said neighbor Dale Pegler.
"The first one shook my bedroom window," said another neighbor, Chantay Horn.
Horn said she felt and heard at least two more blasts around 5 a.m. before she saw the home fully engulfed in flames.
"Then when I ran downstairs, I heard the second explosion maybe 10 minutes later, the righthand side of the house went up at that time," she said. Another five minutes later, the third one went off but wasn't as loud as the first two."
Chopper 3 arrived on the scene in the 6 a.m. hour when firefighters were spraying water on smoking hotspots.
Other residents who live in the neighborhood described this morning's events as scary.
"I wasn't sure what it was. Because we have the Texas Eastern Pipeline that goes through our property and then the Sunoco gas pipeline goes down Chestnut Tree," said Lea Attanasio. "It was loud. It's just sad that that happened."
State police said they believe that it was isolated and that there's no threat to the public.
The cause of the incident is still under investigation.