An explosion at a Middletown home left an elderly couple and their son badly burned.

Police say an attempt to light a lantern inside the house Wednesday night ignited the blast at 20 Spring St. Three Middletown police officers helped rescue the three people from the home. The officers say they were on patrol when they saw someone on the house's porch screaming for help.

"I believe that we did what any member of the ? Middletown Police Department would've done," says Officer Fred Slanovec.

Middletown Police Department Chief Kevin Duggan says the liquid gas used in the lantern is very similar to gasoline, causing the fumes to ignite rapidly.

To watch the news conference of authorities releasing details on the Middletown fire sparked by a lantern, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.