Four people are dead after a home explosion rocked the small town of Ellsworth, Ohio in the early hours of Saturday, Oct. 5.
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According to NBC 4, the local dispatch and fire officials began receiving calls around 7:15 a.m. with reports of a home explosion on Huxley Road in Ellsworth Township, which is around 40 miles away from Akron, Ohio.
Multiple fire departments as well as the Ohio State Fire Marshal, Mahoning County coroner, and cadaver dog responded to the scene.
Ellsworth Assistant Fire Chief Jillian Smith revealed the initial call was for a reported structure fire. However, the call was then upgraded to explosion.
“Initial crews on scene reported that the house was completely gone,” Smith stated. “It was a big scene we had. It was a lot of confusion. The search effort was confusing. So, having all that personnel was a benefit to us.”
The Ohio State Fire Marshal officially confirmed that four people were killed. However, it remains unclear if they were inside the Ohio home when the explosion occurred.
It reported that debris from the explosion was found as far as half a mile from where the home had once stood. Other homes in the area suffered damage from the explosion. This included blown-in windows, cracked ceilings, and items being knocked off of shelves and cabinets.
Some of the nearby homes also shifted from their foundation.
The explosion is under investigation.
Nearby Residents Recall Ohio Home Explosion
Meanwhile, residents near and far from the explosion site spoke to the media outlet about what they experienced in the incident. They stated the explosion could be felt for miles.
“We’re two and a half miles away up off Duck Creek Road, and I could feel it like it was right here on the property,” Claudia Meredith shared. “I knew right away it wasn’t a gun. It was too loud, and it sounded just like a bomb.”
Sheila Gilmartin, who lives near the now destroyed stated she couldn’t believe what happened. She also said there was nothing left of the structure.
“It was real foggy this morning,” she said. “So, you really couldn’t see a lot. Then, we saw one neighbor get in his side-by-side with a fire extinguisher going up the road. When we got out to the road, we could see all the debris. You think you’re dreaming, You know, it’s like, ‘Okay am I dreaming? No.’ So, it’s pretty devastating.”