An elderly man in a wheelchair has died following an explosion and subsequent fire at a mobile home community in Westmoreland County, per officials. The Westmoreland County 911 Supervisor reported that emergency services were dispatched to the scene at the 100 block of Round Top Circle in East Huntingdon Township at around 4:17 p.m. on Saturday, WPXI reported.
The fire's intense heat caused the structure to collapse, trapping the man beneath the debris, investigators say, according to Westmoreland County Coroner Tim Carson. The man's identity has yet to be released as officials continue to investigate the circumstances that led up to the tragedy. Nearby residents described the immediate aftermath of the blast, mentioning that the force was strong enough to rattle their own homes, per interviews with CBS News.
The East Huntingdon Township, Scottdale, and Mount Pleasant volunteer fire departments worked jointly to combat the blaze. Images taken by bystanders and sent to CBS News show heavy smoke and flames engulfing the mobile home, signaling the intensity of the incident.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, and there has been no official statement on the possible reasons behind the explosion.
