Firefighter Escapes Injury After Fiery Barn Explosion In Charles Co.

CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)--A Charles County firefighter is lucky to be alive after barn explodes as he tries to put out the flames, and it's all caught on video.

The fire fighter says he stopped the hose for a few seconds to call for help and he was just steps away from the blast.

WJZ's Amy Yensi has more.

It starts as barn fire and in mere seconds a barn explodes.

Waldorf firefighter Allen Bizzell calls for help as diesel tanks inside the Charles County barn fuel the flames early Tuesday morning.

"I didn't see the explosion I just saw bright red everything. It was hot backside of my neck, my back," said Bizzell.

The 23-year-old says he was a few feet away from the burning Charlotte Hall structure.

"I was throwing water on that tank. Actually on a few tanks and I started flowing water for about 3 seconds," Bizzell said.

"Definitely a scary feeling anybody go through that, especially one of your own. Fortunately he wasn't hurt. But it's a great learning tool, for any firefighter you know. Always expect the unexpected," said Chief Mark Kaufmann, Charles Co. Volunteer Fire & EMS.

He says he had no idea there were tanks inside until they started fighting the fire.

Despite dousing the fire with water, the barn erupts into a ball of fire and smoke.

The barn belongs to Amish owners who do not use cellphones. So they couldn't call 911 right away. Authorities say a bystander made the call.

Kaufmann says, "God forbid if someone else would have been in that area, not wearing that gear. They definitely would have been killed."

Bizzell's gear stood the test and he only walked away with minor injuries.

The Amish community affected has already begun clearing the debris and rebuilding.

No one else was injured in this blast. An equipment electrical malfunction is believed to have caused that fire.