Three Crafton volunteer firefighters temporarily trapped in a house fire Tuesday managed to escape relatively unscathed.

They were among the first responders at a fire reported at 7:04 p.m. on Emerson Avenue.

The men, Ray Merrman and brothers Rich and Mike Crown, entered through a side door. They announced as they headed up a stairwell that a fire was raging on the second floor.

By then, second-alarm fire crews were arriving. One team forced its entry through the front door, Crafton Fire Chief Roy Hermes said.

The sudden rush of air fueled the fire to the point of explosion, Chief Hermes said.

The men inside immediately began calling, "Mayday! Mayday!"

Firefighters from around the region, including a rapid intervention team from Stowe, responded.

The trapped Crafton firefighters found their way out by the time the backup crews arrived.

Mike Crown and Mr. Merrman were uninjured. They went back to fighting the blaze, Chief Hermes said.

Ray Crown suffered burns on his neck. He declined medical treatment, rested for a few moments and joined others extinguishing the fire.

No other injuries were reported.

Witnesses said a woman and her children who lived there were out of the house, and the children's father was at work at the time.

The interior of the house was destroyed, Chief Hermes said.

The Allegheny County fire marshal was investigating the cause.