Three people were injured this morning when the small, white house they were in caught on fire this morning.

Neighbors described hearing an explosion go off in the house at 1421 Academy Ave.

Albert Lea Fire Department Capt. Lee DeVries said the call of the fire came into the department at about 5:45 a.m. When firefighters got to the scene, the whole house was engulfed.

An hour later, the whole back wall of the house was gone, revealing the condition of the interior of the house. It appeared to be a total loss.

At this point, there is no indication as to how or where within the house fire started, DeVries said. An investigator has begun to survey the scene, and the state fire marshal has been called in. Three fire trucks with firefighters were at the scene.

Albert Lea Medical Center emergency crews also responded, along with the Freeborn County American Red Cross. The Albert Lea Police Department assisted with traffic control.

An hour after the blaze started, neighbors could still be seen standing outside of their homes watching responders and talking about what they had witnessed.

“It woke me up out of a dead sleep,” said the neighbor at 1425 Academy Ave., next door to the house that burned. “When I woke up I heard it, ‘Boom!’ It just exploded.”

The neighbor, who did not want to be identified in this story, said when she came out of her house, the house “was completely gone.” Flames were shooting out of the front windows. She heard yelling.

There were two people lying on the yard in front of the house, who appeared to have gotten burnt, she said.

No other information about the occupants of the house or their injuries were available as of press time.

Neighbors indicated the house is a rental property.

Look to the Tribune for more information as it becomes available.