T-L Photo/GAGE VOTA Rubble is all that remains of a Key-Bellaire Road house that exploded early Wednesday morning, leading to the death of one Belmont County resident. Home explosion near Bellaire leads to one fatality

BELLAIRE — An early morning house explosion led to one fatality Wednesday.

Richard David Workman, 74, died after his home along Key-Bellaire Road exploded around 4:30 a.m., drawing multiple Belmont County fire departments to the scene. Cumberland Trail Fire District was the first to arrive, with OR&W Fire District, Neffs Fire Department, Spirit of ’76 Volunteer Fire Department and Smith Township Volunteer Fire Department arriving later to assist. Cumberland Trail Fire Chief Tim Hall said the Salvation Army of Bellaire’s Emergency Disaster Services Canteen Truck was also at the scene to support the firefighters. Hall added that the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s office will be handling the investigation.

Morgan Landis of the State Fire Marshal’s Fire & Explosion Investigations Bureau was also on site working to determine the reason for the explosion.

According to the Ohio Department of Commerce’s website, “The Fire & Explosion Investigation Bureau is a law enforcement agency tasked with investigating the origin and cause of fire, explosions and fireworks incidents in Ohio. Investigators stand ready, 24 hours a day, to assist local fire and law enforcement in combating the crime of arson and bringing perpetrators to justice.”

“From the fire marshal’s point of view, we are still out there investigating and working to determine the cause,” Ohio Fire Marshal’s Office Public Information Officer Jarrod Clay said later Wednesday.

He added that once a determination is made by the fire marshal’s office, it will release a statement informing the community if any foul play was involved.

Belmont County Coroner Amanda Fisher confirmed that Workman was the only person in the house at the time of the incident.

Workman’s sister Marjorie Perez said the house was a family home that she and Richard grew up in. The house burned to the ground due to the early morning incident.

“We express our condolences to that individual’s friends and family,” Hall said. “We hate to see that.”