1 dead after early morning house fire and explosion in Connellsville
CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) — An early morning house fire and explosion in Connellsville killed one person and left several families displaced.
Around 6 a.m. on Friday, a fire broke out in a home at East Murphy Avenue. The Fayette County coroner confirmed that 84-year-old Ronald Veshnesky died in the fire.
Neighbors reported that the house exploded around 6:30 a.m. and loud popping noises were heard. Officials told residents that there were oxygen tanks and ammunition inside Veshnesky's home.
"It was like a rumble," said Ben Porterfield, who lived just up the street from Veshnesky. "It just shook. It was scary."
Tracy Bohonski, who lives next door to Veshnesky, told KDKA that she left her house with her two dogs just as her neighbor's home collapsed. She was taken across the street to Highlands Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation before being released later in the morning.
Bohonski says that a part of the house she shares with her husband Gary is likely livable, but she says that their downstairs is completely ruined from fire, smoke and water damage.
The Silbaugh family, who lives on the other side of Veshnesky, was not home when the fire started on Friday morning. All occupants were out of the house because a young woman named Alyssa went into labor in the middle of the night and gave birth at J.W. Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia, to a 6 lbs., 10 oz. baby named Harper Grace.
KDKA spoke with Harper's aunt Alexis Ansell, who says that Harper Grace likely saved the lives by coming when she did.
"At 4 a.m. this morning, my sister gave birth to her beautiful baby girl Harper down at WVU Children's, where I work as a NICU nurse," said Ansell. "So, I went up and saw the baby. And about three hours later, my dad gets a call saying that our neighbor's house was on fire and it was probably going to get our house on fire too. I think it was shock at first and then just thinking about all the baby stuff. ... just not knowing if any of it was salvageable."
Ansell went on to say that the Silbaugh family house is likely uninhabitable, and they will have to bring Harper Grace to a different home when they are discharged from the hospital. She also added that their families' pets, two dogs and two cats, made it out of the house safely thanks to first responders.
It is not yet known what caused this fire to start, but the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshall is currently investigating.
