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Family says couple killed in home explosion lived in house several decades

BEAVER COUNTY, Pa. — Emergency crews said two people were killed after a home reportedly exploded in Beaver County early Tuesday morning.

Officials said the explosion happened in the 400 block of Louthan Road in South Beaver Township just before 4 a.m.

Firefighters said when they first arrived at the scene, they were forced to keep a distance from the home because ammunition was going off inside.

https://twitter.com/WPXI_Brandon/status/488990432831868929

Officer Jesse Richman said the victims were inside the ranch-style home at the time.

Chanel 11's Brandon Hudson said the victims were identified as 74-year-old Ray Trautvetter and his wife, Janet.

The Trautvetters’ family told Channel 11 News that the couple had lived in the home more than 50 years.

“Me and my brother married sisters, so I lost a brother and my wife lost a sister,” said Ray Trautvetter’s brother, Darrell on Tuesday. “They were both great people and hard workers. It’s just sad they built it and that’s where they had to end their lives.”

The fire marshal is investigating the cause, which Richman said police believe "probably is going to be gas-related." He said the home used propane as a fuel.

Several WPXI-TV Pittsburgh Facebook fans who live nearby said the explosion rocked their homes.

"For us it felt like something hit our house and shook it to the core. The boom was horrible sounding," said Jen Conforti.

One WPXI-TV Twitter follower sent us these photos.

https://twitter.com/tplevel77/status/488977343575101440

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

WPXI

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