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Last updated on Monday, July 16, 2012
(FORT WAYNE) - One person was hospitalized after their home exploded in Fort Wayne Saturday.
When firefighters arrived on scene in the 1700 block of Bayer Avenue, they found the house in flames and completely collapsed.
Fort Wayne Fire Chief Amy Biggs said multiple calls came in around noon with people reporting a house had exploded.
Others homes and cars in the area were also affected. Neighbors heard and felt the explosion from blocks away.
"There's a huge boom," said David Robinson. He saw the fire. "The floors shook. It woke me up. I got out of bed. It was nuts, it felt like an earthquake almost."
Tom Cook heard the explosion inside his home. "I was watching TV and all of a sudden I heard a great big old bang!" said Cook.
According to China White, she and two other people lived in the home.
She said she smelled a foul odor for a few days. On Saturday, she thought the smell was stronger.
"My first instinct, I think it was gas," White said. "I went downstairs, but nothing was on, so I just thought it can't be that, it is not on. The smell was so strong, I had to suffocate myself under my blankets and stuff. I was going to light a candle because it was awful, thank God I didn't."
White was at work when she found out what happened to her roommate.
"I got a call saying my roommate lit a match and, the house exploded," said White. "My neighbor, Jason, pulled him out of the rubble. I think my roommate is going to be okay, but he has burns on 70 percent of his body from head to toe."
White said her other roommate and herself have lined up another place to stay.
The fire remains under investigation. Biggs said it could take a while to determine the cause of the fire.
"This is going to be a long process," she said. "We're looking at all those different areas where the materials landed. We'll be working with our investigator to get a cause and origin and relationship to the incident."
NIPSCO, AEP and Neighborhood Code were called in to assist firefighters.
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