Several homemade bombs were found inside a burning Welland apartment where a man was critically injured Sunday, Niagara Regional Police say.

Det. Wayne Genders said neighbouring homes were evacuated and bomb technicians from the NRP’s explosive disposal unit were called in to locate and neutralize improvised explosive devices discovered by Welland firefighters who were battling the blaze in the second-floor apartment of a two-storey house at 79 Park St.

A 41-year-old man remains in critical condition at a Hamilton hospital after he apparently jumped from a second-storey window to escape the fire that was first reported at about 1:38 p.m. Police have not identified the man who is being treated for severe smoke inhalation.

Welland fire Chief Brian Kennedy said firefighters discovered the devices made out of propane tanks when they entered the building after flames were all but extinguished.

Firefighters quickly withdrew from the building, and called in the bomb technicians.

It’s a type of incident that adds substantial risk to the already dangerous job firefighters do.

“When you’re going into a place blind because you can’t see anything until the smoke clears, and then you see what you’re dealing with,” he said, “yeah, it’s a reality check for sure.”

Kennedy said firefighters have faced similar circumstances while responding to fires in the past, though “not for awhile.”

“It can happen.”

Kennedy said firefighters continued to battle the blaze from the building’s exterior after the explosive devices were discovered.

“Another fire broke out in the peak there at the time when we didn’t want anyone in the building until the NRP had done their work and cleared the building to be safe,” he said. “From the shelter of the fire truck, they just used the deck gun and knocked that fire down and that was the end of it.”

Evacuated residents were kept from returning to their homes until about 11 p.m. Sunday.

Kennedy said Welland Hydro had to cut power to the entire street for about four or five hours, until the electrical service to 79 Park St. could be disconnected.

Bomb technicians returned to the building Monday morning to continue their investigation and ensure it was safe before Welland firefighters and investigators from the Office of the Ontario Fire Marshal were able to enter.

Genders said he has yet to determine why explosive devices were in the apartment.

“I don’t know the motivation, but I don’t suspect terrorism,” Genders said. “It’s early in the investigation. In a day or two, I should have a better idea.”

Genders said he doesn’t know the number of explosive devices that were found, although “there were several.”

“I don’t have a full count,” he said, adding it’s part of the investigation by bomb technicians.

He also couldn’t explain why the explosives did not detonate in the blaze. That’s something the bomb technicians hope to determine, too.

Kennedy said the 33 volunteer and career firefighters who responded aboard six trucks “did a really good job of knocking it down.” Kennedy said the fire was confined to the second-floor where the explosive devices were located, while the ground-floor apartment sustained extensive heat, smoke and water damage. Residents of the ground-floor apartment were not home when the fire broke out.

Genders said police are “definitely looking” at laying charges related to the incident, although it depends on the condition of the man.

Kennedy said two dogs were rescued from the building by neighbours, while firefighters retrieved a cat from the ground-floor apartment.

Police estimated the damage at about $200,000.

The incident has led to concerns among residents of the normally quiet neighbourhood.

“I’m crying,” said a woman who did not want to be identified. “I want to move.”

“We don’t feel safe,” added another neighbour. “To see something like this happen is scary.”

ABenner@postmedia.com