Explosion levels home in Coatesville

A Chester County family is out of their home tonight after an explosion caused their entire house to collapse.

It happened Thursday afternoon in the 100 block of Penrose Lane in Coatesville.

Betty Brennan was standing on her back porch, just 30 feet from the home, when it exploded.

"All of sudden we heard the loud boom. Looked over and the house went up in the air, was all covered in gray, then it came down and broke apart like this," Brennan said.

The blast broke several of her windows and an entire wall came crashing down in one piece.

A SUV was smashed.

Debris littered the 100 block of Penrose.

Neighbors were stunned and rushed to the scene.

Harry Anderson lives nearby. He tells us, "In my mind I'm thinking the people are sometimes are always home. And I am thinking to myself, Oh my God I hope they aren't in that house."

Brennan says, "Tragic. Thank God the dear little children were not there. There're two little children, and thank God they were gone swimming. The father was working. God was with them."

No one was injured.

State Police and the Chester County Fire Marshal's office are investigating.

An official with the police says it appears natural gas is the cause, but why is unclear.

PECO says it was increasing natural gas capacity to the neighborhood, but couldn't say if the work led to the blast.

The explosion was for the most part isolated to the one home. The family is being provided shelter by the Salvation Army.