LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. — Firefighters from throughout Lancaster County attacked heavy smoke and flames at the Bird-In-Hand Family Inn early Monday morning.
One person died in the blaze, which broke out following a propane explosion at about 2:30 a.m. at the Leacock Township hotel's front office.
“I just thought it was lightning or thunder because the sounds and vibrations shook the entire house and I heard the pots and pans moving," said Ambroja Ferguson, who lives across the street from the Family Inn.
The person killed in the incident, whose identity has not yet been released, is believed to have been an employee at the inn.
Neighbors say it's a devastating scene, one week before Christmas.
“All of the mess and everything that’s happened, the fire, the smoke, and you’re just like praying for everybody," said Ferguson.
Daylight revealed the more than one million dollars worth of damage left behind.
The inn's office was destroyed and neighboring buildings had their glass windows blown out.
Glass and debris were thrown everywhere.
“I just couldn’t believe it, I just couldn’t believe the devastation from it," said Steven Kadsand of East Lampeter Township. " It leveled it, basically leveled it”
Kadsand lives five miles away from the Inn and even his family felt the impact.
“My wife woke me up around 2:30, called me and said ‘Did you feel that?’" he explained. "I said 'No,' but she heard it, she felt the rumble, she said it sounded like an explosion.”
“I know a lot of people stay there and it gets busy and hopefully they’re able to rebuild and everything will be okay," added Ashley Martin, who also lives across the street.
Police and firefighters were on scene all day searching through the rubble.
State police fire marshals are now working to determine the exact cause of the propane explosion.
FOX43 reached out to the Bird-In-Hand Corporation, which owns the Family Inn, but have not heard back as of Monday afternoon.
All Bird-In-Hand properties were closed Monday due to the fire.
Update, 11:21 a.m.: The Lancaster County Coroner's Office and Forensic Center has been called to the scene of a propane explosion and subsequent fire in Leacock Township, coroner Stephen Diamontoni said.
Pennsylvania State Police at the scene say that one person is dead. Officials had said earlier in the morning that they believed the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn was empty when it exploded.
The Coroner's Office released no further information at this time.
Troopers estimate that the value of the loss to the business is at least $1 million.
Previously: A propane explosion at a Lancaster County inn started a fire early Monday morning.
According to Lancaster County Wide Communications, firefighters worked to extinguish flames at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, located at 2740 Old Philadelphia Pike in Bird in Hand, Leacock Township. First responders were informed of the explosion around 2:35 a.m. on Dec. 18.
There are shards of glass and pieces of window frames littering Old Philadelphia Pike. The roof of the office was completely blown off in the blast.
Emergency responders at Bird-in-Hand Family Inn for fire
Neighbors as far as three-quarters of a mile away reported that they heard the explosion, saw their doors rattle and felt the shake of the blast.
The blaze is now contained and under control, although the fire is still burning. No one has been taken to the hospital, 911 Dispatch said.
Police believe no one was inside the building when it exploded.
The investigation is ongoing. Officials say it will take about a week to fully investigate what caused the propane explosion.
This is a developing story. FOX43 has a crew at the scene and will provide more updates as they become available.