1 dead, at least 2 injured in Maryland house explosion, authorities say
The fire department was initially requested to respond to a gas leak around 6:42 a.m. ET outside the home on Arthurs Woods Drive in Bel Air, where authorities found a victim dead, Oliver Alkire of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office said during a news conference Sunday.
“However, as they were approaching the scene, they received multiple other phone calls stating that ... this gas leak has been turned into ... a house explosion,” Alkire said.
There was an odor of gas in the area and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company was aware, according to Alkire.
The gas and electric company’s contract workers, who were on the scene when the explosion happened, were initially called to an area nearby to address a separate issue of electrical problems at the time of the incident, he said.
Authorities said it is unclear whether the explosion at the house, which was listed for sale, was intentional or accidental.
“We are still vigorously processing the scene at this time,” Alkire said.
Officials are working to notify the victim’s family before releasing further details, said Jeffrey Sexton, a spokesperson for the Harford County Fire and EMS.
A woman who lived next door was inside her home during the explosion was injured but treated, Alkire said.
“That was the house that sustained the most damage. However ... due to the blast radius, there’s going to be multiple structures,” Alkire said.
A Baltimore Gas and Electric Company worker was also hurt but the extent of their injuries was unclear.
Sexton said the blast was “one of the largest explosions” he had seen.
Officials will be conducting a joint investigation with special operations, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and local authorities, Alkire said.
Authorities said they are conducting search and rescue operations and are working to determine the extent of the blast radius.
The fire department initially planned to assist us with the gas leak, but they received multiple calls about the situation becoming a house explosion. The woman who lived next door was injured in the explosion, but she was treated and is now safe.
