Firefighters arrived and tried to put out the blaze when a blast broke out Friday, Lenoir County Emergency Services said in a press release.
A civilian who was fighting the blaze before firefighters arrived was mortally wounded and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the statement.
The dead man was identified as Randy Herring, the owner of the La Grange property where the fire took place, Lenoir County Emergency Services said on Facebook.
Three volunteer firefighters from the La Grange Fire Department were injured in the blast and taken to hospitals for treatment, according to the statement. Two of the firefighters have been released, and a third has been taken to a cremation center.
Fire departments worked all night to contain the fire and “completely extinguish the hot spots,” Lenoir County emergency services said Saturday.
The incident is still under investigation.