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Flames Rip Home in Schuylkill County

SHENANDOAH — Flames tore through a home in Schuylkill County Wednesday morning. It started around 9 a.m. in the 200 block of West Centre Street in Shenand...

SHENANDOAH -- Flames tore through a home in Schuylkill County Wednesday morning.

It started around 9 a.m. in the 200 block of West Centre Street in Shenandoah.

A post on Facebook shows heavy flames coming from the front of the building.

After firefighters put out the intense fire, they pulled out a half dozen kerosene heaters, another half dozen propane tanks, and containers filled with kerosene.

A state police fire marshal says it's not illegal to have the kerosene heaters in the home, but propane tanks should never have been inside.

Fire damaged three homes and firefighters say the home where it started is a total loss. The two surrounding homes have significant fire and water damage.

"I heard an explosion," recalled Anthony Rettzo. "I didn't see it, but I heard it. Someone also told me there was an explosion. I ran down and saw all the smoke and flames."

Rettzo lives on the same block where the fire started. He was down the street working and ran over, thinking his house was in danger. It wasn't, but Len Usalis's was and Usalis was inside.

"I heard a loud bang or an explosion, and I came outside. I saw the front of the neighbor's house was on fire," said Usalis.

Usalis says when he ran out of his home, the man who was in the house where the fire started was also running out carrying a propane tank that was on fire.

That man threw the propane tank on the front porch. Seconds later, Usalis saw it explode.

"If that would've blew up while he was holding it, he would've been done for it," said Usalis.

Firefighters say the man who threw the propane tank was taken to the hospital to be treated for burns.

Three other people made it out of the home safely.

But while firefighters and a state police fire marshal were investigating the cause of this fire, they found a half dozen propane tanks and containers of kerosene, along with a half dozen kerosene heaters.

"It's very unsafe," Usalis added.  "I've known my neighbors a long time. I never had any problems or issues with my neighbors. I'm glad they all came out healthy and OK, but I did not know that is the way they were heating their home."

Fire marshals have ruled this fire accidental and say it was caused by a heating source that used propane.

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