KIDDER TOWNSHIP -- One person is dead and two people are in the hospital after a home exploded in Carbon County.
It happened in a development in Lake Harmony around 2 p.m. Monday.
Flames and smoke rose from a house in the Lake Harmony Estates Development after crews said a blast tore through it.
Those in the quiet Lake Harmony community were startled by the noise.
“I looked out my window in the back and all I could see is pitch black smoke, and then you could see the flames shooting out all the way across the roofs,” said Pat Cairns.
“We got here the place was literally fully involved in flames. The ambulance was working on someone in the street, I assume from the building,” said Lake Harmony Fire Chief Ralph Lennon.
Several fire companies joined the effort as they fought to bring the fire under control.
Investigators said the force of the blast and the pressure of the flames eventually leveled the home.
“We did begin to make headway on the fire, there was no saving the building whatsoever, there was a collapse on the D-side wall, that was bugled out when we arrived,” said Chief Lennon.
Police said three people were inside the home, and two of them were taken to the hospital.
The third person's body was found among the rubble after the fire was out.
Neighbors said this is a vacation rental, and police said the three people inside were caretakers of the property.
The people who own the home came to the scene a few hours after the blast to speak with investigators.
State Police Fire Marshals plan to be back at the explosion site Tuesday morning as the investigation continues.