- A catastrophic house explosion Friday in Sterling, Virginia, killed one firefighter and injured nine other firefighters and two civilians
- The home exploded while rescue workers were investigating a gas leak
- Authorities said a storm in Sterling would complicate the ongoing investigation
A Virginia firefighter died in a catastrophic house explosion Friday evening, while 11 others were injured and hospitalized.
Emergency crews responded to a call about a gas leak in Sterling around 7:30 p.m. When firefighters entered the house and investigated the matter, the house unexpectedly exploded.
Shocking footage and photos document the aftermath and show clouds of smoke rising from the rubble.
Nine firefighters and two civilians were injured and taken to several hospitals, although the condition of their injuries was not immediately known.
“I would say this is the worst call we can respond to and this is a time where we need to support each other and hold each other,” said Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Asst. Chief James Williams.
Emergency crews responded to a call about a gas leak in Sterling, Virginia around 7:30 p.m. When firefighters entered the house and investigated the matter, the house unexpectedly exploded
Shocking footage and photos document the aftermath and show clouds of smoke rising from the rubble
Nine firefighters and two civilians were injured and taken to several hospitals, although the conditions of their injuries were not immediately known
Neighbor John Padegett told ABC: “The whole house shook.” It was a huge explosion and luckily I had been walking my dog beforehand and smelled gas
Neighbors reported hearing a loud bang and feeling their houses shake. Some said their homes were also damaged, NBC and FOX5 reported
“It was very smoky. “There was debris falling from the sky,” Kyleigh Krishreck said, adding that it felt like something hit her home.
Neighbor John Padegett told ABC: “The whole house shook.” It was a huge explosion and luckily I had been walking my dog beforehand and smelled gas.
“It looked like an inferno…it was horrible, it looked like something out of a war zone,” Padegett said.
“Total devastation.” A field of rubble extends far into the street and into the neighborhood. “It takes a tremendous physical and emotional toll on everyone involved in the fire service,” Williams said.
Numerous photos show fire trucks with extended ladders hovering over the rubble as rescuers search the rubble.
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the explosion but confirmed that all firefighters were evacuated from the building.
Neighbors reported hearing a loud bang and feeling their houses shake. Some said their homes were also damaged, NBC and FOX5 reported
Numerous photos show fire trucks with extended ladders hovering over the rubble as rescuers search the rubble
“I would say this is the worst call we can respond to and this is a time where we need to support each other and hold each other,” said Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Asst. Chief James Williams
A social media user who lives nearby said all the neighbors heard the explosion
'[There were] People who were trapped. The rescuers went in and tried to pull her out. “This incident will impact the entire fire service in the country,” Williams said.
The deceased firefighter has not been identified pending notification of next of kin, authorities said.
Multiple agencies were devastated by the explosion as Loudoun County Fire and Rescue announced the loss of a crew member “with a heavy heart.”
The office wrote, “One firefighter was determined to have died at the scene and several others were transported to local hospitals for medical treatment.”
“Police, fire and rescue personnel are active at the scene and the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating.”
Williams told reporters that the expected storm in Sterling tonight would complicate the crime scene and the ongoing investigation.