OLD ORCHARD BEACH, MAINE — A Leominster woman was one of two women killed in a camper explosion at Powder Horn Campground in Old Orchard Beach on Saturday, according to the Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office.
At approximately 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, 2025, Old Orchard Beach Fire and EMS responded to reports of an explosion at the campground, which is located at 48 Cascade Road. Two adult women were found with severe burn injuries and were transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where both died the following day.
The victims were identified as 58-year-old Nancy Pilsch of Leominster, Massachusetts, and 58-year-old Alesia Ventura-Large of Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Preliminary findings indicate that liquefied petroleum (LP) gas had been leaking into and beneath the park model camper. Investigators believe the gas ignited when one of the women lit a candle, triggering the explosion.
“In light of this tragedy, the Fire Marshal’s Office urges the public to consider installing gas detectors in any living space where propane or natural gas appliances are used,” the Main State Fire Marshal’s Office said in a statement. “These detectors can alert occupants to dangerous gas buildup and provide valuable time to evacuate or take safety precautions.”
The Maine State Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing its investigation into the explosion, with support from the Maine Solid Fuel Inspectors, who will conduct a thorough analysis of the camper’s gas systems.
