Eleven firefighters and two other people were injured after an explosion occurred while they were fighting a house fire in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, local authorities reported.

Salisbury Fire Chief Bob Parnell explained that the firefighters did not suffer serious injuries, although several presented Bruises, concussions, and smoke inhalation. All received medical attention after the incident on Monday night. Two other people were also taken to a hospital, although Parnell indicated that it has not been confirmed whether they were inside the house at the time of the fire, nor is their current condition known. The explosion destroyed part of the structure. The Salisbury Fire Department responded to the emergency at around 5:00 p.m., when the detached house was already fully engulfed in flames. Of the 22 firefighters present at the scene, eleven entered the structure to search for possible occupants and fight the fire from the inside. Minutes later, the explosion occurred.

“It was such a force that the exterior walls were blown off, the roof lifted up and then fell back down,” Parnell recounted during a press conference.

Ongoing Investigation

Authorities are continuing an investigation to determine the causes of the fire and explosion, while assessing potential structural risks and hazardous materials at the site.

The incident has generated concern among emergency services and the local community, given the magnitude of the blast and the number of rescuers affected.