A critically burned man and an injured Columbus firefighter were taken to hospitals Monday afternoon after a house fire on the East Side.
The fire was reported in the 1500 block of Genoa Place about 2:30 p.m., said Columbus Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin.
A witness told investigators of hearing an explosion and going outside to see the house in flames and a man inside also on fire. The witness said the man reached the front yard and collapsed, and Martin said that is where fire crews found him.
He was taken to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, where he was in critical condition with burn injuries late Monday afternoon.
The man, who was not identified and is not believed to be a resident of the home, suffered second- and third-degree burns over 85% to 90% of his body, Martin said.