Man hospitalized after Barrie, Ont. house explodes

CTV's Mike Lang joins CP24's Andrew Brennan for the latest on the Barrie, Ont. home explosion.

A home in Barrie, Ont. burned down after an explosion and large fire on Saturday, sending one person to the local hospital.

It happened around noon at a home on Marshall Street near Thorncrest Road.

Security camera video supplied to CTV News by a nearby resident shows them initially relaxing in their backyard with their pets. The video then shows a ground-shattering explosion at the neighbouring household, accompanied by a loud ‘bang’ and the home getting engulfed by flames.

A large-scale emergency response followed involving Barrie fire crews, Barrie police and County of Simcoe Paramedics.

When CTV News arrived on scene, the home appeared to be completely destroyed, and firefighters were observed extinguishing possible hotspots in the wreckage.

“We had six firetrucks arrive, with crews that began to bring that fire under control and then try to protect the exposures on both sides of the house,” said Eric MacFadden, Barrie’s deputy fire chief, in an interview with CP24.

Barrie fire officials confirmed to CTV News and CP24 that the incident was indeed a reported explosion.

Barrie Police told CTV News on Sunday that one man was transported to a local hospital and later airlifted to a Toronto area trauma centre where he remains in critical condition.

Police eventually expanded the cordoned off area as fire crews continued working on the scene.

The cause of the explosion and total dollar value of the damage is not yet known. Neighbouring homes also sustained some fire damage, but Barrie fire officials confirmed that they are safe.

The Barrie Police Service and investigators from the Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office are on scene examining.

“The OFM have the training and expertise that is required in necessary to sit through the debris, and hopefully determine what caused this explosion to take place,” said Barrie Police corporate communications coordinator Peter Leon to CTV News.