A devastating gas leak explosion at a Virginia house has left a firefighter dead and eleven others wounded Friday evening, Loudon County authorities said.
The explosion occurred while firefighters were inside the northern Virginia home shortly before 8 p.m.
A gas leak caused a “structural fire” at the residence and shortly after firefighters arrived “the house did explode.”
One firefighter died in the blast while nine others and two civilians were rushed to hospitals, some with serious injuries.
“It’s a huge physical and emotional toll on everyone associated with the fire department,” Loudon County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams said.
“Obviously, the people who are trapped, the rescuers that are going in to try to pull them out, the incident commander.”
