A house exploded in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday afternoon, shaking the town and injuring six people, including four children, officials said.
The blast happened at the sprawling single family home at 411 Hibernia Road just before noon, West Brandywine Township Police Chief Jeff Kimes said.
The explosion sparked a raging two-alarm fire that severely damaged several sections of the home.
Two adults and four children were injured in the explosion, Kimes said. One adult and two of the children were flown to an area hospital by medical helicopter for treatment. The other two children were taken by ambulance.
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No word yet on their conditions, but some suffered burns, Kimes said. Officials also said all six are expected to survive.
The sprawling property has multiple buildings and a large pool. It's located directly across the road from the West Brandywine Township municipal building and police department. First responders were at the scene within a minute of feeling the explosion, Kimes said.
Flames shot from the roof in several sections of the home. Some two hours later, the fire continues to burn, officials said. Eighteen tanker trucks were called to the scene to help fight the blaze, Wagontown Volunteer Fire Chief Todd Ziegler said.
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Access to water proved to be an issue for firefighters so they were forced to draft from the swimming pool and a nearby pond, Ziegler said. Fire trucks have been shuttling a mile between the scene and Pope John Paul Regional Catholic Elementary School to refill their water tanks.
High temperatures and poor air quality caused by the western wildfires has made battling the fire more taxing on firefighters, officials said.
Local and federal investigators responded to the scene to investigate. They have not said what may have sparked the explosion.
