Propane Explosion at Pennsylvania Hotel Kills One, Causes Extensive Damage

The Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, closed for annual maintenance, was the site of the explosion that also damaged a neighboring restaurant.

One person was killed in a hotel explosion in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the heart of the state's Amish country.
The explosion, which occurred early Monday morning, is believed to have been caused by propane, but the initial source is still under investigation.
The hotel, Bird-in-Hand Family Inn, was closed for its annual pre-Christmas maintenance and repairs, and no guests were present at the time of the explosion.
The explosion flattened the front office of the hotel and also caused damage to a neighboring restaurant.
The owner of the company that operates the hotel estimates the total damage to be between $1 million to $2 million.