'Shock in my body': 3 injured in RV explosion, fire in Peabody - Boston News, Weather, Sports

PEABODY, MASS. (WHDH) – Three people were injured when a motor home exploded in Peabody Tuesday afternoon, authorities said.

SKY7-HD spotted the vehicle smoking on Walker Road after 3:30 p.m. Firefighters sprayed water on the charred RV as flames leapt through the top of the vehicle.

Two men were flown by helicopter to hospitals and another man was taken by ambulance, according to the Peabody Fire Department. The fire chief said all three men suffered severe burns, but all three were awake and talking when they were transported.

The three men were working on the vehicle at the time, according to the department. The explosion was captured on a surveillance camera installed near a car.

Once the fire was extinguished, only the carcass of the vehicle remained. Debris and ashes were also visible on the ground surrounding the camper.

“They quickly doused the fire and all the firefighters did a great job of keeping the fire from spreading to the homes,” said Peabody Fire Chief Jay Dowling.

Neighbors reported hearing a loud noise and looking out their windows to see the camper on fire, with smoke filling their street. A man was seen running out of the camper and rolling on the ground as smoke surrounded his body.

“It was a shock to my body, an adrenaline rush like I’ve never felt before,” said neighbor Evan Deleidi. “I wasn’t panicking on the outside, I was more panicking on the inside and I thought in a situation like that you have to think clearly.”

The heat of the flames burned the siding of several nearby houses. Sandals, a pair of pants and a shirt were left on the ground, burned at the edges.

“We heard a big explosion, I looked out the window and saw tons of smoke going up in the sky, and you could see the flames above the house across the street from me,” said neighbor John O’Donnell.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to the department.

Utility crews were on site at 9 p.m. working on nearby power lines.

One of the men was released from hospital Tuesday evening, but the condition of the other two has not been made public.

“They’re nice people. They’re my neighbors, so we all care about them,” O’Donnell said.

This is a developing story; stay with 7NEWS on air and online for the latest details.