A massive house explosion Sunday morning in the suburbs of Maryland killed two people and injured one, authorities said.
Two Baltimore Gas and Electric workers were at the scene prior to the explosion to investigate an electrical issue, and the workers were aware of reports of a gaseous odor in the area, Master Deputy Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said. A 35-year-old gas contractor for BGE and the 73-year-old homeowner were killed in the blast, ABC News reported, citing authorities. (RELATED: Video Shows Massive Explosion At Bank, Multiple People Reportedly Injured)
The force and damages the explosion caused displaced at least 12 families in the neighborhood, and “the cost is expected to be in the millions,” the Harford County Sheriff’s Office said, ABC News reported.
Footage of the aftermath showed the extent of the damage.
A gas leak explosion completely obliterated a house in Bel Air early this morning – At least one fatality.pic.twitter.com/25k6szuIra
— ALEX (@ajtourville) August 11, 2024
The mostly white debris of the house that once stood there surrounded the active fire apparent in the video.
The Harford County Fire and Emergency Medical Services similarly posted a photo of the still smoldering remains of the house and its damaged environs to Twitter.
Update on apparent house explosion.
Volunteer Firefighters & @HarfordCoDES Special Operations continue to search the debris. One person found & pronounced dead. @MarylandOSFM & @MyBGE investigating. No current public threat.Media: Abingdon Library 2510 S. Tollgate Rd, Abingdon. https://t.co/cK7Tkluyn4 pic.twitter.com/TWIhsgheCQ
— Harford Co., MD Fire & EMS (@HarforCoFireEMS) August 11, 2024
“Officials are using aircraft to search the debris,” Harford County Sheriff’s Office tweeted.
Please note: Recreational drones are not permitted over an emergency scene. Officials are using aircraft to search the debris. https://t.co/c1LXckU0sV
— Harford Sheriff (@Harford_Sheriff) August 11, 2024
The state fire marshal’s office found the bodies of the deceased through the help of heavy machinery, ABC News reported. The injured person from the blast was a neighbor who was treated at the scene, the outlet reported.
“I’ve been on the job for 18 years, and this was one of the largest explosions I’ve seen,” Alkire said. Officials said that the house was a “total loss,” ABC News reported.
Jefferey Beyers, a neighbor, told ABC News that the deafening sound of the blast woke he and his wife up and that the explosion kind of felt like an earthquake. Beyers’ windows in his home were blown from their frames, the outlet noted.
“I think it’s important to get to the bottom of it, like understand what happened so that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again,” Beyers told the outlet.
