A strong explosion in Eastern Kanawha County this morning blew the helmet off a firefighter. "It sounded almost like a cannon going off," Malden Fire Chief, Squeak Peterson told WSAZ.
The tank burst, sending pieces flying through one neighbors home and another neighbors shed, according to firefighters. The firefighters say they're lucky to be a alive.
"If they had been on the attack mode at that time instead of stretching the line, if they would have been in front of that door there would have been serious injuries if not fatalities from the fire fight," Peterson said.