Large Gladwyne, Pa. home left in ruins after explosion
GLADWYNE, Pa. (WPVI) -- Emergency crews remain on the scene hours after a blast that was felt miles away leveled a Montgomery County, Pa. home.
911 calls came in from as far as New Jersey.
"Our whole house shook, we're about a mile or two up the road. We didn't know what it was, some kind of explosion," said one neighbor who heard the blast.
The 9,000 square foot house on the 600 block of Dodds Lane in Gladwyne was reduced to a few walls and rubble after the explosion around 8 p.m. Sunday.
Officials say about 75% of the home was destroyed in the blast.
The cause of the explosion is believed to be a gas leak, though authorities note that the investigation into this blast continues.
The sound of the blast was captured on a nearby security camera.
"It sounded like the biggest bomb I'd seen in my life. It was just so loud. And the concussion was so great; the whole house shook," another neighbor said.
Debris rocketed into nearby trees and was left hanging from branches.
No one was inside the home at the time as the family was staying in a carriage house on the property. They were among the many to call 911.
First responders rushed to the scene.
The call on police radio came in as, "Large single family dwelling that's exploded. All occupants accounted for at this time."
The dwelling, a six-bedroom, expansive home, was under construction.
"The information we have at this point is the house is under extensive renovations, a substantial portion of the single family residence has been leveled and we have assistance from ATF and State Fire Marshal," said Lower Merion Township Police Superintendent Michael J. McGrath.
The home was last purchased in 2007 for $3.4 million and has been on and off the market.
It was most recently listed for sale earlier this year for $1.8 million.
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