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Woman injured in RV fire in Schuylkill

A Virginia woman sustained burns to her head and neck after a propane explosion in her RV Sunday at Locust Lake in Schuylkill County.

“It was certainly a large explosion,” Matt Morgan, captain of the Ryan Township Fire Company, said adding one of two small dogs were blown through the windshield.

The dog had minor burns, he said.

The Ryan Township Fire Company was dispatched at 5:59 p.m. to campsite 52 for reports of a vehicle fire.

When firefighters arrived, a small fire was visible in the rear of the RV, which took five minutes to extinguish, Morgan said.

The woman was found outside of the RV, having escaped, he said.

“She was semi-responsive,” he said.

She was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital Burn Center, Allentown for her injures. Her husband told Morgan Monday she was in critical condition and would require an extensive hospital stay.

Morgan didn’t know their names. He said the husband, who was nearby gathering water, was not injured. A second dog that escaped was later found.

An official cause of the fire has not been determined, Morgan said.

State Police Trooper Joseph Hall was on scene to investigate.

“It does not appear to be suspicious. Looks to be related to a propane explosion,” Morgan said.

He said the couple had been at the site for about an hour before the explosion. The interior of the RV is destroyed, he said.

The tragedy is a reminder to practice appropriate safety during the upcoming vacation season. Propane connections and lines should be checked before being used to ensure no leaks, he said.

Responding to the scene were fire companies from Ryan Township and Tuscarora. Ryan Township EMS and Luzerne Medic also responded along with the Schuylkill County Animal Response Team.