WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Three firefighters were hurt Tuesday after a building exploded in a busy part of Wilmington, fire officials said.

According to the Wilmington Fire Department, crews were called out to a building on New Centre Drive near Bob King Drive — which is between two of the city's main thoroughfares, Market Street and College Road — shortly after 11 a.m. for a gas leak call. Fire officials said the leak was caused by a car crashing into a gas meter.

"We were out here investigating doing a primary search of the building to make sure everyone was out of the building when there was an explosion," said Rebekah Thurston with the Wilmington Fire Department, adding that only fire personnel were in the building at the time. "Upon the explosion, there were flames showing through t

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