Firefighters were responding to a gas leak inside a residence when the explosion occurred.
A firefighter was killed and 11 other people were injured in an explosion possibly caused by a gas leak that leveled a home in Loudoun County, Virginia, on Friday night, reported CBS News citing authorities.
Firefighters revealed that firefighters were called to a home on Silver Ridge Drive for a report of a gas smell shortly after 7:30 p.m. and a fire explosion followed about 30 minutes later.
According to James Williams, deputy chief of operations for the Loudon County Fire and Rescue Department, the explosion and fire occurred while firefighters were inside the building.
“Shortly after arriving, with firefighters inside, the house exploded,” Williams said during a news conference.
Williams revealed that one firefighter died while nine firefighters and two civilians were taken to hospitals, with injuries ranging from limited to serious.
Photos from the scene showed a large police presence battling a fire in the rubble of the house amid thick plumes of smoke. Fox News reported.
Williams said the cause of the fire was under investigation.
Additionally, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Sterling Volunteer Fire Company said its crews had responded to a report of a gas leak before the explosion.
“We have all the firefighters out of the building. The fire will continue to burn,” Williams said.
“It's a huge physical and emotional toll on everyone associated with the fire department. Obviously, the people who are trapped, the rescuers who are going to try to get them out, the incident commander,” Williams said.
Williams described the damage to the home as “total devastation.”
