A firefighter was killed while 11 others were injured in an explosion possibly caused by a gas leak that leveled a home in Loudoun County, Virginia, Friday night.
Fire officials revealed that firefighters were called to a home on Silver Ridge Drive by a report of a gas smell shortly after 7:30 pm and a fiery explosion followed about 30 minutes later.
JUST IN: Massive house explosion reported in Sterling, Virginia resulting in a firefighter being trapped in the basement.
The firefighter was reportedly "trapped by debris."
"The house is pretty much leveled," a firefighter said on a dispatch call.
At the moment, it appears… pic.twitter.com/gK1TPSjykO
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 17, 2024
According to James Williams, assistant chief of operations for Loudon County Fire and Rescue, the blast and fire occurred while firefighters were inside the building.
“Soon after arrival, with firefighters inside, the house did explode,” Williams said during a news conference.
Williams revealed that one firefighter was killed while nine firefighters and two civilians were taken to hospitals, with injuries ranging from limited to severe.
