A devastating house explosion in Sterling, Virginia, has left one firefighter dead and 12 others injured, with authorities attributing the incident to a leaking propane tank.
The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue team responded to a gas odor report at a residence on the 300 block of Silver Ridge Drive on Friday evening. Upon discovering a 500-gallon underground propane tank leaking on the property, they called in the Hazardous Materials Response Team.
Tragically, a massive explosion occurred shortly after the officials' arrival, leading to "multiple maydays from firefighters" inside the house, as stated by the fire and rescue team. This catastrophic event triggered a swift response from other nearby emergency units.
In the aftermath of the explosion, amidst "multiple maydays and calls for help," rescue crews scrambled to locate those trapped under the debris. Among the casualties was 45-year-old Trevor Brown, a member of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company since 2016. "Please keep Firefighter Browns family, friends, and colleagues in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time, and we ask that the familys privacy be respected," requested the fire and rescue team in a Saturday morning release.
The blast resulted in 13 hospitalizations, including 11 first responders, four of whom remain in the hospital, and two civilians, all suffering from varying degrees of injuries. James Williams, an assistant chief with Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, described the scene to the Washington Post as "total devastation." He added, "This is the worst call that we can respond to, and this is a time where we need to support each other and hold each other up."
The department assured the public that the incident appears to be isolated, with no ongoing threat to the community. The Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshals Office is currently on the scene, investigating the cause of the incident. The Independent has reached out to the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue for further information.
Login