POLAND TOWNSHIP — One person died in an early morning explosion Monday that turned into an inferno at a home in the 4100 block of Arrel Road.

Andy Ellinger, public information officer for the State Fire Marshal’s Office, revealed the death late Monday in an email but said any information about the victim would be released by the Mahoning County Coroner’s Office.

“The exact cause of the fire is currently undetermined,” Ellinger stated.

He said the fire marshal’s office, which is investigating the explosion and fire, had no other details to release.

The Western Reserve Joint Fire District, which provides firefighting and emergency medical services to Poland and Poland Township, did not return calls Monday asking for information on the explosion and fire.

Seth Meredith, who lives next door to the home that exploded, said he heard a “boom,” as a result of the explosion a little before 6 a.m., then “looked out the window and saw flames” that reached the top of the trees between the house where he lives and the home that exploded. Meredith said the home has been a rental.

The area where the house is located is on a somewhat rural route in the southern part of Poland Township near Springfield Township.

Representatives of Dominion East Ohio Gas were at the scene, as well as two people from Becker’s Angels Rest Pet Cremation Service of Struthers, who brought two gurneys with white bags from the house and loaded them into their van. It was reported that two dogs also died at the scene.

Firefighters were there from the Western Reserve Joint Fire District, as well as at least one investigator from the fire marshal’s office.

The home was still giving off a bit of smoke from behind some large bushes blocking the view at about 9:30 a.m., but it was apparent that the home was badly damaged.