BALTIMORE, MD — A gas explosion rocked Northwest Baltimore on Monday morning, killing one woman and seriously injuring four others. Firefighters on scene continued to rescue an additional occupant through the afternoon, according to the Baltimore Fire Department.
As of Monday afternoon, the cause of the blast is still under investigation as crews continue to dig through the rubble of three homes.
“Right now we have our eyes on one additional person that we’re trying to get out,” a Baltimore City Fire Department Official said at a press conference Monday afternoon.
“It’s a labor-intensive rescue,” she said. “Again, this was a major gas explosion so you have homes that were pretty much crumbled. [There’s] a ton of degree on the ground …”
Officials said the rescue has been a joint operation between city and county departments. Most utilities in the area had been turned off and the department is checking in on surrounding homes for potential issues.
Baltimore Gas and Electric [BGE] released a statement on Twitter around 2:30 on Monday:
“BGE, along with area fire departments and other officials, are on the scene. BGE is working closely with the fire department to make the situation safe. Crews are turning off gas to the buildings in the immediate area.
After the gas is off, we can begin to safely assess the situation, including inspections of BGE equipment. This is a developing situation, and we will keep you updated as details unfold. An investigation to determine the cause of the explosion is underway.”
