— First responders rushed toward a massive fireball despite the threat of another explosion five months ago when a natural gas leak in Durham ignited.

The April 10 explosion rocked the area west of downtown Durham, killing two and injuring about two dozen others.

After Durham released a limited amount of body-worn camera footage from firefighters a month ago, WRAL News went to court to obtain all 100 or so hours of footage from the scene. A judge put some restrictions on the video, such as not posting footage of anyone injured in the blast, but WRAL combed through all of the video to get a comprehensive look of it was like to respond to the explosion.

A Durham Fire Department investigation last month identified the cause of the explosion: A three-person crew from Durham-based Optic Cable Technology was drilling horizontally as part of a project to install underground cables when they struck a 3/4-inch gas line in front on Kaffeinate, a coffee shop at 115 N. Duke St.

Gas flowed for about an hour, filling underground cavities near Kaffeinate, before the blast, the department's report said. Firefighters haven't been able to pinpoint what ignited the explosion, however.

The newly released body-cam videos show police officers, firefighters and paramedics risking their lives to make sure people got out of nearby buildings.

"That was the biggest thing I’ve ever seen," one firefighter said. "We pulled up on it, [and] that thing was like boom, boom."

Neighboring red brick buildings bore white scars from flying debris, and the street was littered with pieces of buildings.

At the time, first responders feared the casualties would be higher.

"Two confirmed dead in the service building. There’s going to be a lot more," one police officer said.

Actually, Kaffeinate owner Kong Lee, who refused to leave the building as firefighters evacuated the area before the explosion, was the only person killed the day of the blast.

Jay Rambeaut, a PSNC employee who had responded to the gas leak, died two weeks later of injuries he suffered in the explosion.

A strong smell of gas remained in the area after the explosion, including buildings where there was gas build-up.

"We entered that building, but there's too much gas, and we had to back out," one police officer reported to another.

While firefighters battled the gas-fed blaze and first responders helped victims, everyone else had one goal: Clear several blocks around the explosion site as a precaution.

"Hey, anybody inside? Durham police. Are you OK? Anybody inside?" an officer calls out upon entering a building.

Two paramedics checked a charter bus that had been passing the area when the explosion occurred.

"We got nobody. We got nobody. Alright, nobody's on the bus. Bus is clear," they announced.

"We have a gas leak here. Wind's drifting this way. Open flames, it will blow up. Let's move," a police officer told people nearby, including a man who appears ready to light a cigarette.

"Everyone in here, we have an open gas leak. You guys need to go. Let’s go. Everyone out. Let's go," an officer yells to people in a shop.

As first responders continued to move others to safety, they remained in the danger zone.

"I'm a little nervous because I smell that [gas] and there's open flames," one police officer said.

"Make sure those buildings are clear. Don't go in. I can smell gas," an officer tells his fellow officers.

"Yeah, which means we're in the blast zone, baby," another officer replies.