Honey Brook Township, PA – A father and son are picking up the pieces after part of their home exploded on Wednesday night in Chester County. Officials were called to the blast in the 1000 block of Twin County Road in Honey Brook Township just before 8 p.m.
“I don’t know what happened. It just pushed me. It collapsed everything and it was really loud,” said tenant Fernando Almanza.
Authorities said a propane leak caused the explosion in the home’s basement, resulting in significant damage to the first floor.
Almanza had just returned home and was standing by the garage when the blast happened.
He told 69 News on Thursday that he is grateful to be alive. He’s further pleased that his son, who lives with him, wasn’t home at the time.
“It’s not easy to see your life can disappear in a couple of seconds. Thank God I was just like… was not my day,” he said.
The Red Cross was called to assist the two, providing housing and other help, but Almanza isn’t sure where he and his son will stay when the assistance comes to an end.
“I worry,” he said. “I’m gonna do everything that’s possible to get a quick home.”
Perhaps that’s the same challenge facing two other people, who were planning to move into another section of the home this weekend, officials said.
The homeowner, Melvin Stoltzfus, told 69 News that he is working to determine whether the home can be repaired.