Photo: Phil Fisk / Cultura / Getty Images
A 41-year-old man is still in critical condition after a dramatic house explosion and fire Tuesday night (March 24) on Areopagitica Avenue in Bridgeport, New York. Emergency crews responded around 7 p.m. to reports of a home explosion, where they found Mark Smith outside the residence with severe burns. He was rushed to Upstate University Hospital for treatment, according to the New York State Police and CNY Central.
Firefighters arrived to find the house engulfed in flames. It took crews about 20 minutes to bring the blaze under control, said Bridgeport Fire Department Chief Jim Ostrowski. The fire also caused side damage to a neighboring home, but no firefighters or other residents were injured, as reported by WSYR-TV.
Eyewitness video captured the moment the house exploded, with a man running from the building while on fire. The structure suffered significant damage, and smoke was visible from the site for more than an hour after the incident, according to Yahoo News.
Investigators from the Bridgeport Fire Department and New York State Police are working to determine the cause of the explosion and fire. Preliminary findings do not indicate foul play. The investigation remains ongoing, and updates are expected as more information becomes available.