A gas heater in the basement caused the fire and explosion at a house on Elmwood Avenue Wednesday night, village police said.
Chief Roland Nenni said the owner of the house, Vincenzo Spampanato, 81, was performing maintenance on the heater when it exploded, resulting in a fire that destroyed the house.
Spampanato and his wife, Felicia Spampanato, 72, suffered severe burns to their upper bodies. He was taken by Mercy Flight to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester. His wife was taken by ambulance to Strong, where both were originally in critical condition. On Thursday, they were listed in guarded condition in intensive care, a hospital spokeswoman said.
The fire was reported at 6:21 p.m. Police arrived minutes later and found both Spampanatos on the front yard.