Ohio Firefighters Stunned By Backdraft

XENIA, Ohio --

Xenia Firefighters faced dangerous conditions after being called to a house fire at 990 South Detroit Street late Monday evening.

Firefighters said the flames hit a large, three story Victorian home that had been subdivided into three apartments. They said all of the residents were out of the home when they arrived.

Firefighters said big problems began when they tried to get into the attic to get at the source of the fire. Their efforts gave a lurking fire the energy and oxygen it needed and it created a violent flashover, also known as a backdraft. The force of the suddenly energized fire blew out the home's windows and sounded like an explosion to neighbors watching from the street.

Xenia resident Danielle Palmer said, "We were walking down here and the whole back of the home exploded, windows busted everywhere, it was pretty crazy, they had to sound the alarms to get all the fire people out."

Another resident, Joy Wallace, said " They were starting to fight it with water and then there was an explosion, a big loud bang and lots of fire came out the top."

Firefighters confirmed that the backdraft and the resulting chaotic conditions forced them to sound an evacuation order for all firefighters. They did that by sounding their truck's airhorns and ordering all firefighters out of the home.

Xenia Fire Chief Jeff Leaming said, "A backdraft is a fire that needs oxygen, it's just smoldering. A fire needs oxygen, heat and fuel, it had plenty of heat and fuel and when the crews went to open the attic it gave it oxygen and we had a backdraft, at that point we had the airhorns blow and all crews were pulled out."

Firefighters said they forced to use ladder trucks and an aerial attack, spraying water onto the burning roof and home from above.

Investigators said none of the residents were hurt when the fire began and all the firefighters escaped injury during the backdraft.

Firefighters have not yet uncovered what sparked the flames.