Family dispute leads to gas-fed fire that caused Queens home to collapse; 8 officers, 3 others hurt
SOUTH OZONE PARK, Queens (WABC) -- A Queens family's home was destroyed by a devastating fire early Thursday morning.
A 5-alarm, gas-fed blaze, broke out at a home on 130th Street around 3 a.m. and quickly intensified, eventually causing the house to collapse.
Firefighters worked for hours to keep the flames from spreading to neighboring homes in South Ozone Park.
Eight officers, including a sergeant, were injured while responding to the scene.
Officials say all of the officers are in stable condition after being taken to a local hospital for treatment.
Three other people were hurt. It's not yet known if they were people who lived in the home. All injuries are said to be minor.
Investigators believe the incident began as a family dispute involving a knife, which somehow escalated and ultimately led to the explosion and fire.
The exact cause of how the dispute triggered such a massive blaze remains under investigation.
Police officers were among the first on scene and rushed to help residents escape the burning home before it collapsed.
Firefighters remained on scene Thursday morning, working to fully contain hot spots and secure the area.
Authorities have not released further details as the investigation continues.
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