Backdraft at house fire causes explosion, but no injuries

An explosion on the scene of a Sunday night fire in Prince George's County caused firefighters on the scene to be blown back as much as 20 feet and their helmets to be blasted off -- but no injuries were reported, according to authorities.

Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at a single family home on the 2300 block of Prima Way in Woodmore.

At the fire. (Courtesy Pr. George's Fire Dept.)

After about eight minutes of work, authorities said, what's called a "backdraft" -- what happens when a fire suddenly receives oxygen, causing an explosion -- took place.

That's when the firefighters were thrown back, the helmets came off and a fireball was seen. Firefighters pulled back, authorities said, everyone was accounted for, and the crews returned to work. Nobody was home; damages at the house were estimated at $250,000.

-- David P. Marino-Nachison