BALTIMORE --
A man was being treated for second- and third-degree burns Thursday after a house explosion rocked a northwest Baltimore neighborhood.
The blast occurred about 1:45 a.m. in the 5800 block of Key Avenue off West Northern Parkway.
Crews were still investigating Thursday evening, according to 11 News reporter George Lettis.
Firefighters found a fire still burning amid the rubble. View More Images Here.
"It was 'Booosh!'" neighbor Rosa Battle said in describing the explosion.
The neighborhood was littered with debris Thursday, as huge chunks of the vacant 1.5-story home landed on top of other homes, Lettis said. Shattered glass ended up across the street. Residents from blocks away said they heard the explosion.
"You didn't know if the world was coming to an end or what," Battle said. "You just knew something was going on outside."
Corey Thomas said he was sleeping next door. Shards of glass barely missed his bed.
"All I heard was, 'Boom!'" he said. "It was crazy." Another resident said it sounded like a tornado coming through the area.
When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting from a gas meter in the back of the home.
Firefighters found a man near the home and said he was severely burned on his face and shoulder. He was taken to Bayview Medical Center.
Authorities later said the man was staying next door. It was unclear what he was doing outside the home that exploded.
Firefighters said the person who lived in the home had moved out a few days ago.
BGE is investigating and said it could be several days before a cause is determined. Firefighters initially thought a natural gas leak was to blame.
© 2011 by WBALTV.com. All rights reserved. This materia
