Investigation Continues Into House Explosion That Claimed Two Lives
HARFORD COUNTY, MD (August 11, 2024) - The Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) are continuing their investigation into a house explosion in Bel Air that claimed the lives of a 35-year-old BGE contractor and the homeowner.
At around 6:40 a.m., Abingdon Fire Company initially responded to 2300 Arthur Woods Drive for a reported outside gas leak. As firefighters responded, Harford County 911 began receiving multiple calls that the same house had exploded. Firefighters arrived and confirmed that the house had exploded, damaged several others, causing injury to the next-door neighbor, and received reports that a fatality had occurred.
As investigators arrived, it was reported the involved home was for sale and that one person may have still been inside at the time of the explosion. Firefighters and emergency personnel from the Harford County Special Operations worked throughout the day, searching for anyone who may have been inside the home. With the assistance of heavy machinery, investigators located a victim within the debris. While the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will officially identify the victim, investigators believe the victim is the 73-year-old owner.
As a standard operating procedure, the Harford County Sheriff's Office and OSFM conduct a joint investigation whenever a fatal fire occurs.
Investigators will continue to work with BGE to determine the origin and cause. However, there is no evidence of criminal activity, and they will continue to focus on all accidental causes.
Twelve families were displaced, and the Harford County Government has directed those who sustained damage or any other pertinent information to file an online request for service at https://www.harfordcountymd.gov/FormCenter/Department-of-Community-Development-9/MAKE-A-REPORT-Arthurs-Woods-Community-In-479. They may also call the Harford County Department of Inspections, Licenses, and Permits at 410-638-3122.
While they continue to collect information on exact damages, the cost is expected to be in the millions.
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 Harford County Fire & EMS PIO Media (FB)
The
Office of the State Fire Marshal is an agency of the Department of
State Police dedicated to helping protect citizens from fire and
explosion through a comprehensive program of education,
inspection, investigation and fire protection engineering. For more
information on fire safety call 1-800-525-3124, log onto our website at: Maryland State Fire Marshal and/or our Facebook Page.
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