STERLING, Va. (7News) — A firefighter is dead and several others are injured after several crews were called to the scene of a house explosion in Sterling, Virginia Friday night.
According to James Williams, Assistant Chief of Operations for Loudoun County Fire, initial crews responded to a home located at 347 Silver Ridge Drive around 7:40 p.m. Once firefighters were inside the residence, the home exploded.
Officials have identified the fallen firefighter as 45-year-old Trevor Brown.
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Fire officials said crews were called for an odor of gas outside of the home. Once on scene firefighters found a 500-gallon underground propane tank leaking. The Loudoun County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team was called along with more firefighters from other units.
Officials gave an update on Saturday morning. Watch below:
Shortly after, crews on scene said the explosion happened while they were receiving multiple mayday calls from firefighters inside the home.
According to fire officials, 10 firefighters and two civilians, some suffering serious and others minor injuries, were transported to hospitals for treatment. The two civilians suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
During Saturday's news conference, Fire Systems Chief Keith Johnson said two of the firefighters who were injured were Loudoun County firefighters, seven were Sterling Volunteer firefighters and one was a Fairfax County firefighter.
As of Saturday, four firefighters remain in the hospital and are expected to survive.
"I said this is the worst call that we can respond to. And this is a time where we need to support each other and hold each other up," James said.
7News was live at the scene. Watch live below:
Several fire crews remain on the scene working to extinguish flames left behind. The fire is expected to smolder for an undetermined amount of time. James said this would be an extended scene "complicated by the weather." There is a large police and emergency crew presence in the area.
7News spoke to John Padegett, a neighbor near the burning home who told us he heard the explosion and witnessed the aftermath.
"Whole house shook it was a huge explosion and well fortunately I had walked my dog earlier and I smelled gas and someone in our neighborhood actually called the fire department to come to check on a gas leak," said Padegett. "...it looked like an inferno... it was horrific it looked like something out of a war zone."All of the firefighters are out of the building.
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The fire is under investigation led by the Fire Marshal's Office of Loudoun County.
Here's a full statement from Loudoun Fire & Rescue:
It is with heavy heart that we announce the LODD of a LC-CFRS member in an incident that occurred earlier this evening. Fire and Rescue crews from Loudoun County, Fairfax County, and MWAA responded to a call for a gas leak on Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling. Firefighters made entry and as they were investigating, a catastrophic explosion occurred, injuring several responders from LCFR, SVFC, and Fairfax. One firefighter was determined deceased on scene and several others were transported to local area hospitals for medical treatment. The scene is active with law enforcement and fire and rescue personnel and the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating. The identity of the deceased is behind withheld pending notification of next of kin. We appreciate the continued support of the community and our public safety partners during this difficult time, and will provide updates as available.
A GoFundMe campaign has been created for the homeowner.
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