Contractor working on furnace of Sewickley Heights carriage house severely burned in explosion

SEWICKLEY HEIGHTS, Pa. (KDKA) -- Early reports indicate contractors were working on the furnace of a carriage house in Sewickley Heights when it exploded on Tuesday night, investigators said. 

The Allegheny County Fire Marshal is investigating the explosion that leveled the carriage home off Backbone Road on Tuesday around 5 p.m. The fire marshal is trying to find the origin and cause of the explosion with the help of the Pennsylvania Utility Commission and Equitable Gas. 

Based off of early reports, the fire marshal said three different contractors were working on the furnace in the basement of the carriage house before it exploded. One of the contractors was taken to the hospital with severe burns, and the fire marshal said he's still hospitalized as of Wednesday afternoon. 

There were also several reported minor injuries to first responders who were treated and released at the scene, the fire marshal said. 

The explosion was so strong, neighbors even miles away say it physically shook their homes, knocking items off shelves and breaking them.

"There was nothing left of the house. There was debris in trees, spread about 200 yards out from the house. And I hear this voice, 'help me, help me, help me,'" said neighbor Rich Engler. 

Engler was one of the first people on the scene who found the victim crying for help and stayed with him until paramedics arrived. He said it was a miracle the man made it out alive. 

"This explosion was amazing, absolutely amazing. We still can't get over it," he said.  

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.