A teenage male was hospitalized and nearby residences evacuated on Saturday, Dec. 19, when an apparent explosion caused a fire at a Delmar home.
Police responded to 151 Adams Place at about 11:45 a.m. after receiving a call from the homeowner, who said her son had been badly burned in an explosion. Officers arrived to find heavy smoke and heard two explosion coming from inside the house. They entered and removed a teenage male who had suffered substantial burns to his body, according to Bethlehem police.
The Delmar Fire Department and Delmar Rescue Squad initially responded and additional fire and emergency medical services squads from within town and the surrounding municipalities were also called in.
The Albany County Hazardous Materials Team also responded.
Residents from surrounding homes were evacuated and surrounding streets were barricaded due to the unknown nature of the explosion.
The victim was transported to Albany Medical Center and has since been transferred to the Westchester Medical Center Burn Unit. Two officers from the Bethlehem Police Department and two County EMTs were treated at Albany Medical Center Hospital for possible exposure to an unknown chemical.
An initial investigation has determined that the homeowner’s son was in the basement working when the first explosion occurred. Investigation into the cause and origin is ongoing as members of the Bethlehem Police Department’s Fire Investigations Unit remain at the scene assisted by members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Delmar Fire Department.
Residents were cleared to return to their homes.
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