Four months ago, a house explosion rocked a Syracuse neighborhood. This past June, a dozen people were taken to the hospital after a house exploded on Carbon Street. An investigation found a gas leak caused it.

Some quick-thinking neighbors and others were credited with saving lives on that day. They were honored for their actions on Monday.

“The little one just kept crying, 'My papa, my papa.' It broke my heart,” recalled Carrie Bishop, a neighbor. “It was, like, surreal. And I saw two children in the driveway, and they became my focus. I pulled the two children away from the scene.” 

Those in the home were gathering to celebrate a holiday. But they ended the day in the hospital after suffering broken bones and severe burns, among other injuries. They’ll never forget it. Their neighbors won’t either. 

“Chaos, it was like a horror movie, there was a lot of emotions," Bishop said. "It was sad. It was really sad.”

At the time, Bishop was visiting her mom 10 houses down the street. She said the explosion was so powerful, it caused her mom’s house to shake. When they ran outside, they found a destroyed house and two families in distress.

Many lives were turned upside down by the gas leak and subsequent explosion. 

“You don't really feel emotion," Bishop said. "You just feel, what can I do to help? Who needs the most attention? You know, your emotions are just like not there.”

But on Columbus Day, they were there. With a recovered family in attendance, the neighbors were honored at the 2024 Syracuse Columbus Day Luncheon.

“I think every one of us that were involved in helping for the rescue of this family just did what we knew needed to be done," Bishop said, "not thinking later on we were going to be recognized for it.” 

“They were superheroes that day," said Syracuse Police Chief Joe Cecile. "They weren’t without risk when they went to that house. No one knew what was happening, no one knew if another explosion was going to occur, whether it was going to collapse on top of them. And yet they went there, disregarded the risk to their own personal safety to become superheroes and save lives.”

Bishop hadn’t seen the families since the explosion, and didn’t know them previously. She wasn’t at the event for the recognition. She was there to check on the families. 

“Just to see them connected, and the unity with their family," she said. "It’s amazing that everyone survived.”