The Rochester fire chief wants the community to know home explosions are rare, but crews are trained and know how to handle them because the y have happened before.

A home on Scotch Lane in Irondequoit crumbled in 1993 after a man inside the home filled the basement with fumes. The 60-year-old resident died in what was later ruled a suicide.

On August 1, 1988, a home exploded on Jersey Street in Rochester.  

The fire department said a man in a suicide attempt filled the house with gas.

According to reports, the house exploded injuring the man and several first responders.  The man would later die from his injuries.

Gregg Starks lived in the neighborhood at the time and heard and saw the explosion.  He remembers a devastating scene.

He joined the fire department shortly thereafter.

Starks was home Wednesday and heard the Illinois Street explosion too. He started running to the scene with flashbacks of what happened on Jersey Street 30 years ago. 

”It's a huge brotherhood even after you're out of it,” he said. “It's a huge brotherhood.  Doesn't matter whether is LEO or EMTs you're all first responders you always look out for each other and make sure each other's safe and have each other's back.”