Fire marshal: Woman dies in a house fire and explosion in Penn Hills

An 84-year-old woman died Tuesday in a fire in Penn Hills that officials say was set off by a propane gas leak.

Allegheny County medical examiner personnel were called to the scene of a fire and explosion in the 300 block of College Street.

The victim will be identified by the Allegheny County Medical Examiner’s Office, said Penn Hills Fire Marshal Chuck Miller.

Allegheny County 911 dispatch received calls about the incident just after 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Preliminary investigations determined that there were two explosions at the house, Miller said.

It appeared there was a propane gas leak in the basement that caused a “low-order explosion,” he said. That blew out the foundation walls and started the fire.

Then, the fire hit a second propane tank outside, which also exploded, Miller said.

“It was a matter of maybe a minute between the two,” he said.

Neighbors reported hearing two booms, and the back of the home was engulfed in flames, said neighbor Ethan Revino-Bennett.

The home is a total loss.

The fire was ruled an accident, Miller said. There is no foul play suggested.

The fire then spread to another home, which has smoke damage. That home’s resident is still able to live there, Miller said.

The fire was out by 6 pm.

One firefighter was examined due to heat exhaustion.

First responders from Plum, Penn Hills and Monroeville responded.