SALISBURY, N.C. — A brick home on Laurel Street in Salisbury exploded on Monday during a fire, resulting in injuries to family members and twelve firefighters.
Firefighters said they arrived on the scene within minutes and quickly launched an offensive attack to extinguish the fire.
At some point, as they attempted to combat the flames, the home exploded, leading to the collapse of the roof.
Three family members were inside the home when flames were first noticed in the screened-in back porch area.
Family member Keith Hurd reported the fire as “engulfed” by the time he attempted to investigate the situation.
Following the explosion, Sherita Washington, a family member, witnessed the house collapse. “I heard a big boom, then I seen the house collapse down. And then I saw a firefighter come out of the house, and he just fell to the ground,” she said.
The family’s emotional response reflected the severity of the incident, with Sherita stating, “That’s the family house, that’s my grandma’s house.”
Two family members, one being Sherita’s mother and her sister, were transported to the hospital due to injuries sustained during the blast. Their conditions have not yet been disclosed.
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Twelve firefighters were injured due to the explosion, but Chief Robert Parnell of Salisbury Fire confirmed that none of the injuries are life-threatening.
The chief explained that, “The outside walls blew out. The roof came up and went back down,” causing serious injuries as debris fell on the firefighters.
Upon receiving the fire call, firefighters arrived roughly four and a half minutes later but were caught off-guard by the explosion inside the house.
Chief Parnell noted that the impact was strong enough to knock off firefighters’ masks, exposing them to smoke inhalation.
As of now, the home remains under investigation to determine if it is a total loss.
Two family members were hurt in the fire. Family said the home has been with them for generations.
“When my mom called me and told me it was on fire, all I could think of was my grandma, my mom, my sister, and why, what happened?” Sherita said.
Chopper 9 Skyzoom flew over the house on Tuesday and saw a massive hole along the back of the building. A small SUV in the driveway was also damaged.
Investigators were still at the blast site on Tuesday, combing through the rubble.
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