During the raid, the Philadelphia Police Department head of bomb disposal, on board a Pennsylvania State Police helicopter, dropped a satchel containing Tovex and C4-Explosive on the roof of the home occupied by members of MOVE, and 5 children without warning. Police and firefighters were observed plugging their ears while the 45 second fuse burnt, but local reporters were not aware that an explosive was dropped from a helicopter until the bomb went off. The resulting explosion ignited a clearly visible can of gasoline on the roof, and started a fire that resulted in the destruction of 65 homes in the neighborhood. Despite having hosed the building with high-power water cannons from a distance all morning, the Fire Chief agreed with the Chief Commissioner's suggestion to let the fire burn with the stated goal of letting a rooftop lookout cabin, or fortified bunker, burn. The mayor allegedly ordered someone to put out the fire, and the Chief Commissioner confirmed receiving the message, but did not confirm that he passed it along to the Fire Chief.