Explosion and fatal fire investigation continues in East Huntingdon

The Greensburg-based fire marshal for the Pennsylvania State Police continues to investigate what caused an East Huntingdon mobile home to explode Saturday, killing an elderly man on his porch.

Firefighters from multiple communities responded to the incident about 4:15 p.m. in the 100 block of Round Top Court. The mobile home community is off Porter Avenue, just outside Scottdale.

East Huntington Volunteer Fire Company Chief Brian Kite said William P. Lubovinsky, was found dead underneath a collapsed roof.

Several residents had attempted to save the man prior to emergency responders’ arrival but could not get past the smoke and flames.

“(When) we got there, it was pretty much fully engulfed with structural collapse of front porch, and that’s where we recovered the victim,” Kite said Sunday. “We had a quick knockdown on the fire itself.”

Several tanker trucks were called in to supply water. The nearest hydrant was along Porter Avenue.

Having a hydrant even next to the property would not have improved the response due to the status of the fire upon arrival, Kite said. He could not recall any similar incident in the community during his decade as chief.

Kite declined to speculate on the cause and origin of the blast that spread debris about 50 feet and shook multiple nearby trailers. Those answers would come from the fire marshal’s office, he said.

Nearby homes did not sustain any significant damage, Kite said.

One of his volunteer firefighters suffered a minor injury while battling the blaze. That person was treated at the scene. No other injuries were reported.

Multiple residents contacted Saturday evening said Lubovinsky was a beloved member of the community and that they were shaken by the loss.

A message left with the state fire marshal’s office Sunday afternoon was not returned.