Two Adults, Four Children Suffer Burns In 4-Alarm House Fire In Chester County, Officials Say
COATESVILLE, Pa. (CBS) -- Two adults and four children were injured in a four-alarm fire in Chester County on Wednesday. Emergency crews were called to the 400 block of Hibernia Road in Coatesville for a report of an explosion with entrapment around 11:45 a.m.
Three medevac helicopters were called to the scene, as well as multiple ambulances.
Two children and one adult were flown from the scene. Two others were taken by ground ambulance and another victim refused medical transport.
Joe Formica, who lives next door, tells CBS3's Alicia Roberts he was in the kitchen when the explosion happened.
"It shot out in there like there was a bomb in there," he said, adding, "It was terrible."
Formica described the flames as 70 to 80 feet high. He says one of the victims had skin burnt off their leg. Officials say all six victims suffered burns and the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening at this time.
Eighteen tankers and upwards of 30 fire companies arrived at the scene. Due to high temperatures Wednesday, extra manpower was called to the scene of the fire. At one point, crews had to tap into a local pond for water.
There is no word on the cause of the fire at this time.
As of Wednesday night, federal and local investigators are still in the process of placing the fire under control. Once it is out they will begin to investigate.
