1 Reportedly Dead In Darby Township House Fire
DARBY Twp., Pa., (CBS) – One person is reportedly dead following a house fire in Darby Township, Delaware County.
Officials say the fire was reported Monday night at the 1000 block of Jackson Street.
CBS 3 Eyewitness News is told when fire crews arrived they heard explosions coming from inside the house.
"When we first arrived here there was a lot of things going on. We believe there was some ammunition going off. There were some minor explosions and heavy flames and smoke," said Darby Township Fire Department Chief Tyrone Fitzgerald.
A blue light gas leak coming from the house forced more than a dozen evacuations in surrounding homes while emergency crews cut power and gas to the area and asked residents to leave.
After the smoke cleared, CBS 3 Eyewitness News is told firefighters located the elderly homeowner inside the basement deceased.
Neighbors say he was a well-liked man on the block who has lived there as long as they can remember.
The Medical Examiner has arrived on the scene.
There is no word on what caused the fire.
Stay with CBSPhilly.com for the latest on this developing story.