Two people critically injured in Peoria house explosion – Video

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By Brittany Bade and Jason Silliman The Arizona Republic – 12 News Breaking News Team Wed Oct 16, 2013 10:42 PM

Two people were in critical condition after a house exploded Wednesday night near Cholla Street and 79th Avenue in Peoria.

It was not immediately known what caused the explosion, which people in the neighborhood described as feeling like an earthquake.

Peoria Fire Department Chief Bobby Ruiz said two people with serious burns over much of their bodies were flown to the county hospital in critical condition. He said a male in his 30s had first and second degree burns over 50 percent from waist up. A female victim in her 20s also has serious burns over 40 percent over her body from waiste up.

Witnesses in the area reported hearing an explosion and felt earth tremors that they described like an earthquake.

At 9:45 p.m., aerial footage showed the charred remains of the home and crews were still applying water. Thick white smoke still smoldered.

Ruiz says there are live electrical wires over the house, but whether or not they had any role in the explosion is not known. details on how the fire started were unknown.

Neighbors to the home described the start of the fire feeling like an earthquake and sounding like a bomb went off.

The severity of the burn victims’ injuries is not currently known.

This investigation is still ongoing.