Coastal Georgia house explodes into flame, injuring 3

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A home exploded and burned near Savannah on Monday, with three critically injured people hospitalized at a burn center.

The fire began with a blast around 7 a.m. in the Pin Point community, Chatham Emergency Services said.

Officials say a 45-year-old, a 14-year-old and an infant were taken to a burn center in Augusta.

The cause of the blast is under investigation.

Some neighbors told WTOC-TV that they had trouble getting through to emergency dispatchers and firefighters didn’t arrive for more than an hour. Chatham County officials have said their 911 center is short-staffed and sometimes can’t answer all calls promptly.

Neighbor Carolyn Hendley said the fire started with a boom.

Chatham Emergency Services CEO said flames had engulfed the house by the time firefighters arrived. He said glass from windows was blown into the street and cars in a driveway were seriously damaged from the blaze.