VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Three Virginia Beach firefighters walked away with nothing but bruises after a brick wall fell on top of them during a 911 response at Semmie Drive.
It had been the second time in 24 hours fire crews were called out to the home. Investigators said a fire started on Tuesday night, and then re-ignited again early Wednesday morning.
In both cases, the fire started in the garage, but investigators are still trying to determine the exact cause.
Neighbors said firefighters ran inside the house, as the home's roof had a partial collapse.
"The wall just collapsed and it was traumatic for everyone, but two gentlemen just immediately got out of the rubble," said Joe Franzese, an eyewitness. "They dragged the third one out and amazingly all he had to say was, 'Boy, those bricks are hot.'"
A spokeswoman with Virginia Beach Fire Department said the three firefighters were taken to a nearby hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and have already been released.
However, five people remain displaced after the multiple fires tore through the Virginia Beach home.
"At first it sounded like an explosion, not sure what was going on in the garage," said Franzese. "The fire just engulfed the whole side of the house, and the flames wrapped around to the shingles of the roof.
Everyone who lived in the house made it out alive, and no pet deaths were reported.
A spokeswoman with VB Fire said it could take investigators several weeks to determine the cause of both fires.