House explodes
No injuries reported after blast in Howland
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HOWLAND -- Howland fire Chief James Pantalone said the investigation has started after a home exploded in Howland Township on Thursday afternoon.
No injuries initially were reported, Pantalone said at the scene.
As the investigation continues, Pantalone said he can't confirm if there were occupants in the home or if the fire was set intentionally.
But the chief did add, "… houses don't just explode."
"We're going to remain open to digging through and making sure we're not missing anything."
Crews responded to a possible "car into a home" shortly before 2 p.m. in the 3200 block of Niles Road SE but, upon arrival, learned there was a house explosion, Pantalone said.
As smoke loomed from the structure, a crane came through and began collecting debris.
Other crews were seen checking inside an unoccupied structure right next to the home as the chief expressed concern about potential structure damage.
An excavator arrived as Pantalone said firefighters had begun peeling back the roof of the home. When the house exploded, part of the roof landed on top of a structure next door.
Road closures were set up on both sides of Niles Road SE, at the intersections of Ridge Road and Orchard Avenue.
The Ohio State Fire Marshal responded to begin an investigation. Additional crews, including Bazetta Fire Department, Youngstown Air Reserve Station, Howland Public Works, Trumbull County Emergency Management Agency and Weathersfield Fire Department assisted.
Trumbull County EMA provided drone footage, which will be inspected to determine how far debris fields stretch.
Levi Wade, who lives near Gilmore Greenhouse on Virginia Avenue, said he was doing laundry when he heard what he described as a "loud crash." Nearing Niles Road he said he saw a small fire and "debris everywhere."
Wade's house is about 4,000 feet away from the fire but said debris managed to reach his front lawn.
Wade said the house was last occupied "five or six" years ago by an elderly man but has been empty since then.
Brittany Jeric, who has been living across the street from the house for about a month with her five children, said she heard a loud boom and felt her house shake.
"I ran upstairs to make sure my kids were alright and once they were all safe we came out here," Jeric said. "The house was just gone with flames coming up."
Her son, Kenneth Williamson, similar to Wade, said the home was thought to be abandoned.