The Rochester Fire Department is investigating a house explosion on Illinois Street in the North Winton Village neighborhood.

Firefighters and RG&E responded to the home shortly before 7:30 p.m. Wednesday after a neighbor reported smelling gas. Within three minutes, crews witnessed the home explode and debris scatter across the street.

 Fourteen neighboring homes were evacuated, according to firefighters.

Rochester Fire Chief Willie Jackson said the homeowner remains unaccounted for. A search and rescue team combed through debris looking for him for hours. 

A body was later located in the basement shortly before 11 p.m., however it's still unclear if the body is that of the homeowner.

Jackson says firefighters were very lucky to escape this incident without getting injured.

"I think they might’ve felt some of the pressure from the explosion– and they were actually backing away when the house exploded," he said. "At this time, we have no confirmation that there was a person in there but people did hear a dog barking and a neighbor did confirm they saw someone go into the house.”

RG& E released a statement on the house explosion saying, "At this time the evidence strongly suggests that this was the result of actions by the occupant at the home. RG&E is confident that this was an isolated situation and that the company’s natural gas system is and remains safe and secure for all customers.”

The cause of the explosion remains unclear.