shopping center explosion RAW Video
Eight firefighters and a gas company worker were injured in an apparent natural gas explosion in Forestville, Maryland this afternoon. Four of the firefighters and the gas worker were taken to the Medstar Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center. Two of the firefighters have since been treated and released. Two others, including a captain seen in the white helmet in the video above, are being held overnight for observation.
According to Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department Chief Spokesman Mark Brady, the fire department received a call around 12:55 PM for a report of a natural gas leak. They arrived at 3426 Donnell Drive and evacuated a number of businesses at the Penn Mar Shopping Center. Brady said 45 people were ushered out of the building.
At about 1:23 PM, with the gas company on the scene, an explosion occurred, causing the destruction of about 5 store fronts. A flash fire resulted. Firefighters and the gas worker were injured by both the fire and flying debris.
The building was so heavily damaged firefighters were not able to immediately go back in and search to make sure everyone got out safely.
On the firground audio you can hear a report from the rear of the structure that fire had broken out while firefighters were venting the structure. Moments later, as command attempted to determine what was burning, the explosion occurred and maydays were called.
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Comment by Mason G on May 18, 2009 at 9:39pm - holy crap
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Comment by Thomas Nails on May 13, 2009 at 9:43pm - This is a prime example of the "normal call" that ends up killing good men and women. I pray that everyone recovers and we all learn from this near miss.
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Comment by Lou on May 12, 2009 at 9:55am - Hope everyone is OK. Today's lesson: you can't treat a gas leak INSIDE a building the same way as you would a leak OUTSIDE a building.
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Comment by Joel Lee on May 11, 2009 at 9:42am - Yeah have to show this all around i always say this is going to happen not because of lack of common sense but we just think that it's just a normal call Nothing is normal now to me after seeing this WOW!!!!what a wake up I am praying for a speedy recovery for my fellow firefighters!!!!!!
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Comment by Blake Burns on May 9, 2009 at 12:07pm
- wow.. im going to have to show this to the guys in the dept.. we get these calls all the time and people seem to be too nonchalant about it..
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