Explosion in Levittown leaves family of five homeless. What we know and how to help

Middletown police and fire officials are investigating an explosion and fire in the Snowball Gate section of Levittown on Saturday night that has left a family of five homeless.

The Bucks County 911 center was flooded with calls following a loud explosion on the unit block of Silver Spruce near Spring Valley roads, which police confirmed resulted in a house fire, according to a post on the Middletown Police Department's Facebook page.

The residents of the home were not home and no one was injured, police said. Three dogs were rescued.

Middletown Police Chief Joseph Bartorilla said Saturday his detectives and the fire marshal's office will be investigating what sparked the explosion and fire. He did not offer any comment on what authorities believe led to the incident. He said there were no injuries.

A Go-Fund-Me campaign has been set up for the family who lost all their belongings in the fire.

"When I say everything I mean it nothing was saved but the clothes on their backs," Cheryl Campbell wrote in a Facebook page Sunday morning. Her son and his family lived in the home.

Her 10-year-old granddaughter is most upset at the loss of her stuffed animals, favorite blanket, dolls and her softball gear, she said.

Campbell posted the update after rumors online started swirling in the hours after the fire about what led to the explosion.

"Many people wandering around had thoughts (about) what happened. All the ideas floating around have not been confirmed," Campbell wrote. "My son and his family were out to dinner to receive a call from a neighbor that his house was on fire. He raced home to watch firefighters from all over the county fighting a big fire."

In addition to the devastating loss for her family, Campbell also noted the community spirit the tragedy has brought out.

Neighbors are caring for the dogs who were rescued. Friends are stopping by with supplies that people don't think about like hairbands and toothbrushes. The family has also received texts, social media posts and voice messages from people asking how they can help.

"The love and support my son and his family received tonight was amazing," Campbell said. “They have a very long road, so many challenges to get through. But we will stand by and do what we can to help. Life just keeps throwing curve balls."

The incident was the second time in a month that an explosion preceded a house fire in Levittown.

Last month an adult and two children were injured and a home left uninhabitable in the 60 block of Stream Lane in the Stonybrook section after an explosion and fire that the Tullytown fire marshal attributed to the home oil heating system.

Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Explosion in Levittown leaves family of five homeless. What we know and how to help