Three firefighters were hospitalized for injuries after a propane tank exploded in Portland Saturday afternoon.
The explosion happened after a backhoe was clearing snow around the underground tank. That tank was on the property of a duplex on Summer Street. The blast leveled part of the building and the rest was charred by fire.
Colleen Peralta saw the explosion. She said, "It was incredible. It was scary, scary. The front of the house just blew off."
No one was home at the time of the blast but a dog was reported missing.
The tank held 330 gallons of propane and was last filled in December. Firefighters believe there was about 200 gallons on the day of the explosion. On Saturday night firefighters burned off the remaining propane.
Neighbors on Summer Street were evacuated as a precaution.
One Portland firefighter was taken to Hartford Hospital with burn injuries. Chief Robert Shea said he was alert and talking when he was transported. Two others were treated for minor injuries at Middlesex Hospital.
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Fire investigators were looking in to what exactly ignited the gas to explode.
"There's so many potential ignition points, it could have been anything," said Chief Shea.
The building is a total loss and the Red Cross is helping out the families.
It's sad to see that happen for the homeowner and the firemen," said neighbor Lisa Piatti.
Four other departments helped out Portland in getting the situation under control.
