LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Officials are investigating a fire that led to a Lancaster County home's collapse.
First responders were dispatched to the 1400 block of Union Grove Road in East Earl Township just before 4:30 a.m. on Dec. 23.
FOX43 spoke to neighbor Ruth Good at the scene.
"What woke me up was the loud explosion," Good said. "That was the first thing and I opened the door and I heard somebody screaming, so I came down to help and the little girl was trapped, and her dad was trying to get her loose so we worked 'til we got her loose and then he was screaming for his wife and he came around to the side. The house was in flames by then, and she finally came out through the flames and they brought over to the neighbor‘s house. I’m shaken; it was quite an experience."
The home is a total loss, according to officials on scene.
Chief Hurst with Weaverland Valley Fire Department told FOX43 that there were four people inside when the fire broke out, including one child who was briefly trapped. Two people and the child were transported to a local hospital.
Authorities said the fire was caused by a propane gas leak.
In February 2022 the same house was the location where a Chester County man was shot multiple times by police after he threw cement bricks and threatened them with a blow torch.
Zachary Gilbaugh, 38, was charged with more than a dozen felonies, including aggravated assault and flight to avoid apprehension.
He already had numerous warrants out for his arrest for allegedly stalking a woman and threatening to kill her.
Gilbaugh remains in prison while awaiting trial.
FOX43 reach out to East Earl Township Police to ask if that incident is related to Friday’s fire, but received no response.