live open the scene is "abc news" correspondent lona zach. what is the situation now. >> well, jim fire fighters are still very much on the scene here. they may be getting help from mother nature. it started to rain. cause see behind me their work continues and commissioner says that will continue throughout the night. it was just after 3:15 when the explosion tore through the first building. >> it pushed me forward. i was sitting by the window. i saw the window kind of like vibrate like rubber. >> passers by rushed to help an injured person on the street. the explosion and fire were so intense thick clouds of smoke enveloped the new york sky line. police handed out masks breathing difficult in the heavy smoke. gas is believed to have caused 7-alarm fire that destroyed two buildings and evacuated several blocks in new york's east village. the resulting fire spread rapidly and second building collapsed as neighbors scrambled to safety. it took hundreds of firefighters hours to bring that blaze under control. >> they made extremely dangerous se