Massive house explosion in Port Washington kills 1

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (WABC) -- One person has been found dead at the site of a massive explosion at a home on Prospect Avenue in Port Washington.

The explosion happened at around 8:30 p.m. at 10 Prospect Avenue.

"It was a bang. A bang like you've never heard," said Ginny Garofalo, a neighbor.

There was a huge fire ball and clouds of thick black smoke rising above what neighbors say was once a garage.

Max Schwartz captured cell phone video of the scene and lives just five houses away.

"It was just flames instantly up, like an instant fireball. It didn't build, it wasn't like that," Schwartz said.

The explosion, neighbors say, was in a garage behind 10 Prospect Avenue in Port Washington. That house was destroyed. The fire then spread to the garage in a neighboring home.

From near the harbor, video showed the intensity of the fire which went to five alarms with numerous fire companies responding.

Nassau County Police and fire officials are now investigating.

"It was very frightening because we had kids on the block and I had to yell at everybody," Garofalo said, "It was really scary, something that doesn't normally happen here."

Pictures and videos being sent to Eyewitness News on Twitter show a large fire ball and smoke billowing from the house.

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First responders have set up a staging area at Prospect Avenue and Main Street.

The identity of the deceased is not yet known.