FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
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PRESS RELEASE
Fatal NW Baltimore Explosion Caused by a
Large Natural Gas Buildup
Tuesday, January 12, 2021 - (BALTIMORE, MD) - According to the Baltimore City Fire Department, the cause of the August 10th deadly explosion in NW Baltimore has been determined.
"The explosion was caused by a large natural gas buildup," Fire Chief Niles R. Ford told reporters during a Tuesday morning press conference.
On August 10, 2020 firefighters rushed to the 4200 block of Labyrinth Rd. after multiple reports of an explosion and people trapped. After countless hours of searching, two victims were located – 61-year-old Lonnie Herriott and 20-year-old Joseph Graham – below a considerable amount of debris and rubble and leaving seven others injured.
“As I think back on this tragedy, I am amazed, and eternally grateful to Chief Ford and our Fire Department for their bravery and life-saving work they did on that fateful day,” said Mayor Brandon M. Scott after a brief moment of silence for those who perished. “I also applaud and thank the community members who dropped everything and stepped up and worked to save their neighbors trapped in the rubble. Although five months have gone by, we continue to pray for the recovery of this community and will aid and encourage the healing process after this tragedy.”
This explosion not only claimed the lives of two people, this explosion caused serious injuries to seven others and significant damage to dozens of homes within a three-mile radius.
When investigating, the Baltimore City Fire Department uses the Origin & Cause Investigations – which is to work from the least damaged to the most damaged.
Beyond the rubble, investigators located four gas meters and requested readings from BGE. According to Chief Ford, “the readings revealed a spike in natural gas levels the morning of the explosion.”
“From our understanding, the day before the explosion, a contractor was working on a HVAC system at 4232 Labyrinth Rd. however, we were not aware of any permits pulled,” Chief Ford said. “Based on our investigation and evidence, it appears as though the stove at 4232 was turned on…which provided the ignition source.”
August 10th is a day that will never be forgotten. It is a day that impacted families, the community, the leadership of this city and members of the Baltimore City Fire Department.
Support with the fatal explosion was a multi-agency effort from BCFD Special Operations team, ATF, Baltimore Police and Police Arson, Baltimore City Housing, Baltimore County Fire & Rescue Department, BGE, Howard County Fire & Rescue K-9 Unit, Pennsylvania Cadaver Dog, The American Red Cross, The State Fire Marshal’s Office and The Baltimore City Police Crime Lab.
“It is never our goal to walk away from a scene with lives lost,” said Chief Ford. “Our goal is to help people and protect this community and I remain incredibly proud of the men and women of this department for their heroic efforts."
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