At least one person was killed and two others injured after a house in a wealthy Baltimore suburb — in one of the largest explosions officials had ever seen.
First responders were alerted to a possible gas leak on Sunday at 6:42 a.m. at a house on Arthurs Woods Drive, in the Bel Air, WBAL TV reports.
Those calls were followed shortly by reports of an explosion, with Oliver Alkire, of the Maryland Fire Marshal’s office, describing the blast as one of the worst he’s ever witnessed.
“This is one of the largest explosions I’ve seen,” Alkire told reporters of the blast that destroyed nearly every inch of the home.
Footage of the aftermath shows the smoldering remains of the home, which was up for sale – as wood and debris were seen scattered all across the street and deep into the neighboring yards.
Alkire said prior to the explosion, officials received reports of neighbors smelling gas in the area. Workers from Baltimore Gas and Electric were at the scene investigating at the time of the blast.
Officials said one of the workers and a neighbor were injured in the blast, but they did not identify the person killed.
It remains unclear if the victim was a resident of the home, a neighbor or an official investigating the suspected gas leak.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been called in to help investigate, with officials treating the area like a crime scene given the vast debris field.
Officials added that there was currently no threat to the public.
The Harford County Fire and EMS Association did not release any further information as of Sunday morning.
