VIDEO: Ball of flames follows firefighter's fall through roof

FRESNO, Calif. -- A firefighter fell through a roof while battling a blaze in Fresno, California.

After he fell a huge fireball shot up right near the spot where he'd fallen in.

Harrowing screams from bystanders all caught on camera by Sooji Lee, who watched in disbelief.

"I almost had an anxiety attack because we didn't know what was going to happen. I honestly didn't think he was going to make it," said Lee.

The Fresno firefighter is a 25-year veteran on the force. Investigators say he was trying to put out a garage fire when he fell into the burning building.

Fellow firefighters pulled him out and ripped off his uniform. He was badly burned.

"I believe his burns were on his hands, around his face. He did have his mask intact. There were some other burns on his back, around his legs, so they're pretty much in all areas of his body," said Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis

He'd been on the roof to ventilate the house which is a fairly common practice during house fires.

A member of the fire department says the fire captain has underwent surgery on Sunday, and will need many more surgeries before they know the full extent of his injuries.

Video of the incident was shared per the request of the Fresno Fire Department to show the dangers of firefighting.