An explosion and subsequent fire leveled a Brentwood home yesterday, injuring a resident who managed to escape.
Firefighters from six companies were called out around 6:45 p.m. to the home at 4100 Tuxey Ave., after neighbors heard a boom and then saw the two-family brick home turn into a fireball.
The home was occupied only by a 39-year-old man, identified as Tim Walsh by the owner of the house. Mr. Walsh was transported to Mercy Hospital with burns to his face, arms and legs.
Emergency responders believed Mr. Walsh was in stable condition.
Brentwood Assistant Fire Chief Jack Loeffel said the home was completely engulfed in flames when the first firefighters arrived.
"The whole street was lit up," he said. "All the neighbors were trying to run away."
The flames produced an intense heat that pushed the first responders back, the chief said. But firefighters were able to douse the fire quickly and keep the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes.
The Allegheny County fire marshal was at the scene last night investigating.
Chief Deputy Fire Marshal Donald A. Brucker said it was unclear what caused the explosion and the fire. He said investigators would work through the evening to determine the cause.
He said no gas leaks had been detected in the area.
Roger Newman, who lives a few houses down on Tuxey Avenue, said he heard what sounded like a car crash and then saw a large ball of flames rise above the neighborhood.
"The whole front of the house blew right off," he said.
He said he ran toward the home and found a man who he believed to be the only occupant of the house pacing in the back yard.
The man's facial hair and coif were singed, Mr. Newman said. His legs and his arms appeared to have been burned.
Richard Shuminsky, owner of the home, said Mr. Walsh had rented the second floor for the past 10 years. He said the other half of the duplex was vacant.
"It's hard to watch," he said as he sat on a neighbor's front porch.
Amanda Stover, 21, said she was in her bedroom when she heard a boom. She peered out her window and saw a large plume of smoke and flames coming from the house directly in front of hers.
"It was scary," she said. "I've never seen anything like that in my life, and I never want to."
First Published: August 1, 2007, 3:15 a.m.