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7 People Make It Out Of 2 Alarm House Fire After Explosion

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- An early morning explosion forced several families out of their homes in the 3600 Block of Roberts Place in Baltimore Highlands.

Smoldering bricks and debris are what's left from an explosion and fire that toppled a house in Baltimore Highlands.

"At this time there appears to have been some sort of gas explosion in the home. No word yet on what caused the explosion or where the smoke was coming from," said Blair Adams, spokesperson for the Baltimore City Fire Department.

It happened just before 7 a.m. Sunday.

The blast sparked a two-alarm fire. Seven people, four being children, were inside.

A group of bystanders happened to be outside and instead of running to safety, they ran to the flames and smoke.

"We were moving debris, pulling children out. We got all the children out. The boy came out in the back. He was rushed in a stretcher," said David Blair.

More than 80 fire fighters extinguished the fire, which caused the walls to collapsed and spread to the 2 adjacent homes.

Those who live in the house where the it started were taken to an area hospital for evaluation.

Three adults and three children are in good condition. One child is listed in stable condition.

"It's like a bomb went off here," said neighbor Robert Neal, who was awakened by the blast and had his bedroom windows blown out and windshield cracked on his truck.

"I feel lucky because I'm still alive. This could have been a lot worse than what it is," he said.

He was planning to go for a drive right before the incident happened. He said if he had done that, he might not be here.

The Red Cross is helping those affected.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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