'Thank God he's alive' Contractor survives massive Bucks County house explosion
HILLTOWN TWP., Pa. (WPVI) -- A contractor was seriously injured Monday morning when a home undergoing renovations exploded in Bucks County, leaving him with extensive burns and other injuries, according to family members.
Frances Garner said her first reaction was relief that her brother, Steven Harmon, survived the blast.
"Thank God he's alive," she said.
Garner, who spoke via FaceTime while on vacation, said Harmon had just stepped outside the home on the 100 block of Highview Road in Hilltown Township around 9 a.m. when the explosion occurred.
"He actually called my dad from the ambulance," Garner said. "Apparently, Steven had gone to the house and then turned back out of the house to go to his truck to get some tools, and that's when the house exploded right behind him."
Harmon was the only person at the property at the time. The homeowners were away on vacation and were not living there at the time, as the house was being renovated.
Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion but are focusing on a propane tank used to fuel kitchen appliances. There are no natural gas lines in the area of the home.
A neighbor, Steve Kendra, was checking his mail when the explosion occurred. He said he rushed over to help Harmon after hearing the blast.
"He said he felt like his skin was melting. He was screaming, he had abrasions all over his body," Kendra said.
Garner said her brother is expected to be transferred to a burn unit he has a long road ahead of him.
"He actually is having some difficulty breathing, so we didn't talk very long. But he said he has some pretty significant burns," she said. "He has some broken ribs, some lacerations. He says his right arm isn't really working. They're not quite sure what's going on with that. His foot is messed up. So some pretty substantial injuries."
The long-term impact of Harmon's injuries is still being assessed. He is a single father of two boys, and the family has launched an online fundraiser to help support his children while he is unable to work.
