Suwanee , Georgia ( CNN ) -- A gunman in apparent financial distress took several firefighters hostage Wednesday in suburban Atlanta , then was killed in an exchange of gunfire hours later after law enforcement authorities determined he might lash out at his captives . `` It got to the point where we believed that ( the firefighters ' ) lives were in immediate danger , '' Gwinnett County police spokesman Ed Ritter said Wednesday night . `` And our SWAT team made the decision to go in there and neutralize the situation . '' All four Gwinnett County firefighters who were being held hostage suffered `` superficial '' injuries after authorities used explosives `` to distract the suspect to get in the house and take care of business , '' Ritter explained . Their injuries were the result of the explosions , not gunfire , and all four were expected to go home by night 's end . One law enforcement officer was shot in the incident , but his injury is not considered life-threatening , according to Ritter . All those involved in the incident -- including the Gwinnett County police officer -- were in good condition as they were treated at Gwinnett Medical Center , hospital spokeswoman Beth Okun said . Several have been released , she said . `` They are simply relieved that the situation is over , '' said Gwinnett County Fire Department spokesman Thomas Rutledge . `` The firefighters are glad to be getting treated ... and really work on getting their lives back to normal . '' The hostage situation began around 3:40 p.m. Wednesday when the firefighters went to a residence in Suwanee `` for some type of medical call , '' Ritter said . Four hours later , he noted authorities still were n't sure whether that call was for a `` fake heart attack '' or the gunman was actually suffering from a medical condition . One fire engine and an ambulance were sent to the scene , as is customary , Rutledge said . He explained that the firefighters involved are cross-trained as paramedics so they can provide aid to county residents in purported medical emergencies like this , which happen `` hundreds of times throughout the year . '' `` This is what they do , it 's what they do very well , '' said Rutledge , saying the firefighters had no reason to think this situation would turn violent . `` This call seemed to be no different ... They were caught off guard . '' Five firefighters had gone inside the home -- a two-story structure , one of many in the neighborhood about 30 miles northeast of Atlanta -- with a stretcher , then a single firefighter ran out about 30 minutes later , according to neighbors . Rutledge said one firefighter was let go so he could move the fire truck from in front of the house . The house was foreclosed upon in November and was being prepared for sale , said Brad German , a spokesman for Freddie Mac . It was not clear what , if anything , that fact had to do with what unfolded Wednesday . Jake Major , an 18-year-old neighbor who used to mow the alleged hostage taker 's lawn , said he seemed `` really nice , ... like a normal guy . '' His yard , though , `` was a mess ( and ) inside it was just as bad , '' Major said . Ritter , the police spokesman , said that the unidentified gunman started making demands related to the house after taking the firefighters hostage . `` The power was turned off along with the cable and cell phone and so on , and he wanted all those things turned back on , '' said Ritter , adding that `` apparently he was going through some financial issues . '' Hostage negotiators were on site , as were agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol , Tobacco , Firearms and Explosives , according to Richard Coes , a spokesman for that agency . As scores of law enforcement officers converged on the site , Major said his only hope was that everything he was hearing about the situation `` was wrong . '' `` I knew that ( once ) it had escalated to this level , ... it was n't going to end well , '' said Major , who lives about a block away . `` Whatever happened , it was n't going to end well . '' Explosions rang out around 7:30 p.m. , and soon after ambulances rushed away from the scene . `` Thirty seconds later , I knew everything was OK , '' said Wesley Gossan , who lived two doors down , of the sequence of big and small explosions , followed by a flurry of gunfire . `` Because the ( firefighters ) walked out , they took their hard hats off . '' Ritter explained later that there had been an exchange of `` gunfire between officers and that individual . '' `` This was his call , his decision , this was the result of his actions , '' the police spokesman said . `` We did n't want it this way . But he was calling the shots . '' Shooter who ambushed firefighters left note showing intent . Firefighter arrives to find own house in flames . Philly fire captain dies near anniversary of fire deaths . CNN 's David Mattingly reported from Suwanee , and Greg Botelho wrote this story from Atlanta . CNN 's Dave Alsup , Chandler Friedman , Vivian Kuo and Carol Cratty contributed to this report .
NEW : All those injured are in good condition and/or have been released , a hospital official says . The blast occurred at about 9:45 a.m. local time on the outskirts of Kabul, according to Afghan officials. The hostage taker , who had financial issues , demanded utilities be turned back on . He was killed in a raid by authorities ; 4 firefighters and an officer suffered injuries .