Video Captures Smoke Explosion that Burned NE Firefighter

A dashboard camera video captured a rare smoke explosion that burned a Nebraska firefighter.

Papillion crews responded to a grease fire that broke out at a home Saturday when a father was cooking dinner for his children, KETV-TV reports. At the house's front door, firefighter Joe LaPuzza began dousing the flames with water, and he said there were no signs of an impending blast.

"When I went to put my gloves on, that's when it exploded and threw me back," LaPuzza told KETV.

Pressure had built up inside the home, causing a smoke explosion, which knocked down LaPuzza, who was in turnout gear at the time. The dash camera from a Sarpy County sheriff's vehicle captured the explosion, which also knocked down two other firefighters.  

"I knew something went wrong," LaPuzza told KETV. "The explosion was loud. My ears were ringing, I felt like I was on fire."

"I just scrambled to get out of the area," he added. "I knew I was hurt. My hands were searing and smoking."

LaPuzza was taken to the hospital with second-degree burns on his hands. Another firefighter suffered a concussion. 

"Having a building that pressurized with multiple open doors is just unheard of," LaPuzza told KETV.