VA – An explosive house fire sent a family to the hospital, interrupting their first day in their new York County home.
The family, who had bought the Cape Cod-style home on Tuesday, was moving into the Back Creek Road house when the mother smelled propane, said Tony Prata, a York Fire battalion chief. After she went into the kitchen to investigate there was an explosion which sparked a fire, he said.
When firefighters arrived at the home, located in Seaford off Back Creek, the building was fully on fire with black smoke unfurling. Both sides of the house had blown off with the walls lying flat on the ground, Prata said.
Caring for the three family members became top priority, Prata said, and the mother, Kelly Gunter, and her two daughters, ages two and eight, were transported to Riverside Regional Medical Center with burn injuries and possible smoke inhalation. They were later transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
Firefighters were able to douse the fire in about 30 minutes despite strong winds that continuously fueled the flames. Gunter’s van and attached trailer suffered damage, including broken windows. A neighboring house also saw damage from the heat, Prata said.
Neighbors reported to fire officials that they heard three successive explosions, Prata said. The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation.