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The call about the fire first came into Lancaster County Wide Communications at 2:33 a.m. on Dec. 18.
Emergency crews arrived at Bird-In-Hand Family Inn on 2740 Old Philadelphia Pike and discovered the heavily involved fire through the roof. Firefighters walked over shards of glass from the shattered windows to battle the blaze of the two-alarm fire.
Crews on the scene confirm the Inn's office suffered the bulk of the damage.
Although the blast was heard — and felt — up to a mile away, the fire was contained to the inn and its office. The office was reportedly "leveled," according to Pennsylvania State Police. No injuries were reported but around 11:00 a.m. Daily Voice learned that a coroner had been called to the scene.
The coroner later confirmed:
"Human remains amongst the structural debris and pronounced deceased by a coroner investigator."
The person's time of death is listed as 11:20 a.m. An autopsy has been scheduled so the victim's cause and manner of death are pending those results and further investigation. Once the victim is identified the coroner will reach out to the next of kin, Chief Deputy Coroner Eric Bieber explained.
Daily Voice has reached out to state police and the Bird-In-Hand Family Inn for additional information but was told "Thank you but no comment at this time."
The owner of the inn, John Smucker, has confirmed it was an employee in the office who died at the scene and the estimated cost of the damage is $1 million, according to WGAL News 8.
The fire is believed to have been caused by a propane tank, but a Pennsylvania State Police fire marshall remains on the scene to fully investigate the situation.
Earlier this year, Daily Voice reported on another local inn, Amish View, also catching fire and its guests used tied-together sheets to climb down from the upper floors — several suffering injuries. The uninjured guests were temporarily rehoused at the Bird-In-Hand Family Inn. Click here and here to read our coverage of that fire.
It is unclear where the guests of the inn have gone following this explosion.
The fire at Bird-In-Hand Family Inn is considered a developing situation so check back here for updates.
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