4 injured in home explosion

An explosion leveled a house, sparking a fire that gutted a neighboring home and damaged 20 more Monday afternoon, authorities said.

Officials suspect natural gas caused the blast in which four people were injured, said New Castle Fire Chief Jeffrey Scrim.

“We know the roof, we were told, went 200 feet in the air, so we know the explosion was pretty potent,” he said.

The blast was felt a mile away and sent debris through the walls of some of the other homes, police and neighbors said.

“Everybody’s windows are busted out,” said neighbor Bonnie Lemmon. “There’s just destruction.”

One man was inside the house and two other people were on a nearby sidewalk during the blast. Patrick Henry, who was in the home, was in critical condition at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, about 45 miles away.

Jared Baker was in serious condition at Mercy Hospital. Sophia Baker was taken to West Penn Hospital, which would not release her condition.

Another woman was hit by debris and treated at the scene, authorities said.

There were no complaints of gas odors before the blast and no work crews were in the area, said Columbia Gas spokesman Matt Pitzarella.

Police and emergency crews planned to patrol the area to prevent looting.