MONTICELLO- An explosion rocked a home located at 2 Emily Street in the Village of Monticello at around 11 p.m. on Saturday. Authorities said one person sustained serious burns.
The family had just begun renting the home and settled in for the evening after moving their belongings into the house earlier in the day.
Monticello Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief John Wells said that there were nine people in the home at the time of the explosion. Family members on the scene said that they smelled gas, which they suspect was the cause of the explosion.
Firefighters say one man was severely burned in the basement and was rushed by ambulance to Garnet Health Medical Center in the Town of Wallkill. The rest of the family escaped unharmed.
The explosion ripped the home from its foundation and knocked bricks off of the exterior walls of the structure. Firefighters say the house was heated by propane and two tanks were in the back of the house.
While the main structure of the home was still standing, officials on the scene said that there was significant interior damage including collapsed walls, ceilings, and blown out windows causing it to be condemned.
The Red Cross is assisting the family with temporary housing and Wells says the cause of the explosion is under investigation.
