Hot water tank eyed as potential cause of Plum house explosion that killed five

The house that exploded in Pennsylvania on Saturday, killing five people, was having hot water tank issues, the Allegheny County Fire Marshal’s Office confirmed.

Three homes were totally destroyed with one totally levelled and the other two engulfed in flames in the horror explosion. At least a dozen other buildings were damaged.

The fire marshal said Monday the house at 141 Rustic Ridge Drive in Plum had water tank issues, but has not concluded this to be the cause of the explosion. Officials are still looking into it, “along with any and all other possibilities during their processes that may explain what occurred.”

The investigation remains ongoing as authorities tell non-residents to stay away from the Rustic Ridge Estates neighbourhood, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Pittsburgh.

Two of the five victims killed in a horror home explosion have been identified by their family as Casey Clontz, 38, and his son Keegan Clontz, 12.

They have not been publicly named by officials but the Clontzs’ devastated family members confirmed that the father and son were among those who lost their lives.

Casey and Keegan lived four houses down from the home at 141 Rustic Ridge Drive which exploded on Saturday morning and appear to have been visiting neighbours at the property at the time of the blast.

Jen Clontz – Casey’s wife and Keegan’s mother – and Casey’s best friend Nick Davis told TribLive that Casey and Keegan were inseparable and loved spending time together in the outdoors.

The sudden blast erupted just before 10.30am on Saturday.

Chilling doorbell camera footage captured the moment the home exploded, sending roaring orange flames and smoke billowing high into the air.

Several other people were also found trapped under the debris with three people taken to hospital for treatment.