CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The cause of Tuesday night’s home explosion in the Glenmore subdivision of Keswick remains under investigation but Albemarle County Fire Rescue chief Dan Eggleston said Wednesday that investigation is focused on gas as the cause of the blast.
“We suspect the root of this situation was a gas explosion,” Eggleston said, saying the investigation is focusing on gas appliances and distribution systems.
A woman was killed and a man was seriously injured when an explosion leveled a home on Ferndown Lane in Glenmore. Eggleston said the male victim has been transported to VCU’s burn unit in Richmond. Eggleston said responders first found the male victim, then later discovered the body of the deceased female.
Both were in debris believed to be part of the two-story home’s basement.
“This is a very difficult investigation just because of the widespread damage,” Eggleston said. “The debris field alone is about a mile in diameter, as you can see driving into that community. The insulation from the home goes all the way out to where the golf course is.”
He said the bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has joined the investigation.
The chief said gas explosions of this nature are “rare” in Virginia. He said after a brief but powerful initial fire, the pressure essentially snuffed out the flames. Eggleston said it took firefighters just four minutes to get to the scene and, when they arrived, there were no visible flames.
Eggleston said the blast was so forceful, firefighters at the Glenmore station felt and heard the explosion before calls came in.
The homeowners were not there at the time of the blast, according to Albemarle County Fire Rescue, but the two victims were located at the scene by first responders. The injured male was initially transported to UVA Hospital, then to VCU. No other injuries were reported.
Eggleston said a thorough search of the area was conducted and neighbors were contacted to determine that there were no other possible victims.
Eggleston said families of the victims requested their identities not be released at this time. He said the woman lived in the neighborhood, knew the homeowners and “was checking on their home.” He said she contacted the male victim for help determining the source of a gas odor.
ACFR said 12 other homes were damaged by the explosion, displacing those residents, who are now being assisted by the American Red Cross.
Once the fire marshal’s office investigation concludes, cleanup and structural evaluations of neighboring homes will be conducted.
Eggleston said he believes the explosion was an isolated incident, but urged citizens throughout the county to be aware and take the proper steps if they detect a possible gas leak.
“Remain vigilant. If they smell any gas at all, call 9-1-1 and immediately leave the residence,” he said.
