12 firefighters injured after explosion inside Rowan County home, officials say

SALISBURY, N.C. (WBTV) - Twelve firefighters were injured after something exploded inside a home in Salisbury on Monday evening, according to the fire department.

The Salisbury Fire Department said on Monday, Dec. 15, just before 5 p.m., they responded to a house fire on Laurel Street.

Officials said they arrived within four minutes and found heavy fire coming from the rear of the home.

Salisbury Fire said that firefighters launched an “offensive attack” to extinguish the fire, but as they were doing so, something exploded. Officials say the blast caused the roof to collapse and sent projectiles flying inside the home, as the firefighters were searching the home for occupants.

It was initially reported that the explosion was caused by a gas line, but officials have since said the cause of the explosion is unknown at this time.

The 12 firefighters who were injured in the explosion were taken to a hospital for treatment. The injuries were non-life-threatening.

Two people were also injured, but their condition is unknown at the time of this writing.