Firefighter falls through burning roof and becomes engulfed in flames

A US firefighter has been seriously injured after he fell through a burning roof and was engulfed in flames while fighting a house fire in California yesterday.

The horrifying incident, which was captured on camera, shows the unnamed man on a garage roof attempting to ventilate the home in Fresno.

Using a long-handled tool, the firefighter attempts to punch holes in the roof when it suddenly crumbles underneath him.

As the firie plunges through a massive ball of flame explodes into the air.

The fire crew reacted quickly, entering the burning house through the garage and pulling their fallen colleague out within minutes.

"Once they extracted the firefighter out of the garage, they doused him with water," eyewitness Joe Reyes told ABC.

"As they took his uniform off, he was burned from head to toe."

The man was rushed to the Community Regional Medical Centre; his condition, originally listed as stable, has been updated to critical.

Fresno Fire Chief Kerri Donis told ABC that 60-70 percent of the man's body was burned, with about 30 percent of those being third-degree burns.

"Firefighting is an inherently dangerous operation," Battalion Chief Todd Tuggle said.

"We routinely step out, and we put ourselves in harm's way,"

One other firefighter was hurt during the rescue.