Explosion during house fire in North Carolina injures 13, including 11 firefighters
At least 13 people were injured when an explosion occurred during a fire inside a single-family home in North Carolina, injuring 11 firefighters and two civilians, according to local officials.
The incident occurred on Monday at approximately 4:56 p.m. at a residence on Laurel Street in Salisbury, a city in central North Carolina located about 45 miles northeast of Charlotte, according to the Salisbury Fire Department. Fire crews arrived within four minutes and encountered heavy fire conditions at the rear of the home, officials said.
Firefighters initiated an offensive attack and entered the structure to conduct a search when an explosion occurred inside the residence, Fire Chief Robert Parnell said during a press briefing. The blast caused exterior walls to fail and the roof to lift and collapse, injuring firefighters who were inside and around the structure at the time.
“As a result of that explosion inside this house, 11 firefighters were transported to local hospitals,” Parnell said. He said none of the injuries are life-threatening, with firefighters treated for concussions, contusions, and smoke inhalation. Some firefighters have already been released.
Two civilians were also transported to hospitals, though officials did not release details about their conditions. The American Red Cross was called to assist eight occupants displaced from the home.
A nearby home sustained heat-related damage from the fire, according to officials.
The Salisbury Fire Department earlier said it appears a gas line may have exploded during the firefighting operation, but Parnell stated that the cause has not been determined.
The investigation is being conducted by the Salisbury Fire Department, the Salisbury Police Department, and the North Carolina Fire Marshal’s Office.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
