Explosion destroys Lancaster County road crew’s building, equipment

A Wednesday morning explosion destroyed a Lancaster County government building, spewed black smoke and sent earthquake-like shakes through homes miles away.

The explosion stemming from a propane leak also led emergency responders to evacuate six homes on the 900 block of North Colebrook Road in Rapho Township, where the explosion happened at a shop behind the township’s office building.

The shop was used to house the township’s road crew equipment — equipment that was destroyed in the explosion and subsequent second-alarm fire.

Lancaster County dispatch said a report of a propane leak at the shop came in at 5:49 a.m. The shop exploded about 10 minutes later, leaving flames and heavy smoke in its wake.

Fire departments from Dauphin, Lebanon and Lancaster counties responded to the scene. Lancaster County dispatch said tankers had to be brought in because there were no fire hydrants near the scene of the explosion.

No one was injured during the incident, dispatch said. The Red Cross is providing “comfort, care and refreshments” to evacuated residents at the East Fairview Church of the Brethren at 1187 Fairview Road in Manheim.

Brett Rose, 27, told LancasterOnline he drives by the township building on Colebrook Road each morning on his way to work. He was passing by this morning has as the explosion happened.

“I thought I might have hit something or ran something over. I was pretty disoriented when I got out of my truck,” Rose said, according to the news report. “That’s when I saw the massive black smoke cloud behind me and realized I got hit by the shock.”

Rose told reporters his truck had to be towed from the scene after one of the windows cracked. He said he saw a nearby home was pushed off its foundation during the explosion.

LancasterOnline reported residents could feel the blast in Columbia, Millersville and Elizabethtown, and Palmyra, Lebanon County.

Rapho Emergency Management Coordinator Lori Shenk said the extent of damages is still being determined, according to LancasterOnline. However, the outlet reported the shop and its equipment, including five trucks, were destroyed.

“We lost our building, we have heavy damage in our office building, but they’re buildings, no lives were lost,” township supervisor Jere Swarr told LancasterOnline. “The explosion did not damage the heart of Rapho Township. We will build back, we will rise up. We have a great community and great neighbors.”