ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) - Demolition has begun on Rochester's Pullman Avenue, the site of Friday's home explosion. Rochester fire officials tell News 8 the homeowner is recovering in the hospital with severe burns. Pullman Ave. home will be demolished after explosion injures homeowner News 8's Natalie Kucko spoke to the nonprofit overseeing rescue operations for the more than 30 cats displaced from Friday's fire. Steven Drave, the group's lead volunteer, says the property was used to care for stray and feral cats in the community. Habitat For Cats NY is now working to secure those displaced animals, while the Rochester Fire Department works to determine a cause of the incident. The explosion brought flames to two neighboring homes and nearby cars, shearing a gas line which produced free-flowing gas. Fire officials say the homeowner escaped. "Honestly, I was stunned. It took my breath away. It brought tears to my eyes, and I just had no words. Just stunned," said Drave. He says Habitat For Cats NY had been working with the homeowner since the summer. Drave described the efforts as a 'labor of love' by the man to care for cats in need in the neighborhood. Drave adds the cats would often arrive in very poor conditions. "For the outdoor cats, he provided shelters for them and a place to live, feeding them daily. He went through 20 pounds of food a day feeding these cats. We have rescued cats that have been shot with BB guns, stabbed, poisoned. Multiple have been poked with sticks, kicked, or hit with bats. It's crazy. His life pretty much revolved around caring for these cats," said Drave. Lt. Jackie Sierra with RFD described the challenges crews faced in battling the fire. Dozens of first responders from various companies spent hours working to knock the flames down. "The cold weather and high winds posed a big challenge for this incident in particular. At one point, we had very low visibility. With all the hazards on scene, [it was a matter of] ensuring that we knew where everyone was at, and our strategies and tactics were going accordingly. That was a big challenge for us," said Lt. Sierra. As volunteers attempt to secure the animals safely, Drave says they aren't giving up. "They're not just animals. I mean, if you truly care about animals as much as we do, they're part of the family. There's no other way to describe it really," he said. Rochester fire crews plan to complete the demolition of the Pullman Ave. home over the coming days. Volunteers with the animal rescue say they will be on site 'as long as it takes.' For donation information to contribute to Habitat For Cats NY's cause, click here.