STERLING, Va. — An explosion possibly caused by a gas leak leveled a home in Sterling, Virginia, on Friday evening, killing a firefighter and injuring 11 other people, authorities said.
Firefighters were called to the home on Silver Ridge Drive shortly after 7:30 p.m. for a report of a gas smell and a fiery explosion occurred about 30 minutes later, fire officials said.
The explosion and fire occurred while firefighters were inside the building, James Williams, assistant chief of operations for Loudon County Fire and Rescue, said at a news conference.
“Shortly after arriving, with firefighters inside, the house exploded,” Williams said.
One firefighter was killed, Williams said.
Nine firefighters and two civilians were taken to hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to serious, Williams said.
Williams said the cause of the fire is under investigation. In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company said its crews had responded to a report of a gas leak before the explosion.
“We got all the firefighters out of the building. The fire will continue to smolder,” Williams said.
Williams described the damage to the home as “total devastation.”
