Firefighters had to rescue two of their own during a house fire in Matthews when the burning roof collapsed around them around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In all four firefighters were taken to Presbyterian Hospital in Matthews during the blaze near Independence Boulevard and Interstate 485. Fortunately none of them have life-threatening injuries. Two are being treated for burns and two others are being treated for heat exhaustion.

Hours after the flames died down, firefighters were still on the scene hosing down hot spots and cleaning up their trucks.

Firefighters and neighbors both said they were surprised by how quickly the flames spread in the Kintyre Court home.

"The house went up like in 30 seconds," said neighbor Elizabeth States.

Firefighters said the home was fully engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes. Intense flames shot out of the roof, causing it to collapse.

"The roof didn't fall on top of (the firefighters), but when it did, the fire spread and got them," said Asst. Chief Bart Fowler of the Matthews Fire Department.

Two firefighters, who were outside the home, had to go inside and rescue their colleagues.

A dozen firefighters, all wearing 40 to 60 pounds worth of gear were checked out by Medic when they took their gear off.

"It's pretty sunny, so it's easy on a day like to day to be overcome with heat," Fowler said. "You've just got to take it easy. Everyone who came out of the fire had a mandatory blood pressure check."

No one was currently living at home but there were a few painters inside. They escaped without injury.

Fire officials are still determining what caused the fire.

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