Off-Duty Firefighter Critically Injured by Explosion at Montville, OH, Home

An off-duty firefighter was seriously injured Friday by an explosion at his Montville Township home.

Three people - a father and his two daughters - were inside the home when the explosion happened, Montville Township Fire Chief Ron Jonovich told WKYC.com. 

Jonovich said the father is a captain with in Hambden Township Fire Department and suffered serious burn injuries.

He was transported to University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center and later transferred by helicopter to MetroHealth Medical Center. One of his daughter was taken to MetroHealth with burns and the second daughter was uninjured. 

Geauga County Sheriff Scott Hildenbrand, who is also the fire chief in Hambden Township, said the injured captain was working on the furnace in the basement of the home.

"It's sad no matter who it is, but when you know them and unfortunately I've been in this county — in this township — long enough. I know a lot of people, so anytime anybody has a tragedy like this, I know that not only is it difficult right now, not only with the injury and the recovery, but also there's no place to live for him right now," Hildenbrand the told television station.