At least 12 people were injured when a condominium exploded and burst into flames Wednesday in Gaithersburg, Md., including four children, fire officials said.
The explosion was reported at about 8:40 a.m. at the Potomac Oaks Condominium complex on the 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard near Rabbit Road, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service Public Information Officer Pete Piringer.
A video shared by Tim Pruss shows an aerial view of smoke rising from the nearly extinguished condo building as firefighters continue hosing it down.
The explosion and fire caused a building to collapse, a firefighters evacuated neighboring buildings. Piringer said shortly before 10 a.m. that the bulk of the fire had been extinguished.
Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said firefighters were still battling a “gas-fed” fire in the basement. Washington Gas said in a statement Wednesday morning that “personnel are responding to assist the fire department on the scene.”
Goldstein said at least 12 people were injured, ten of whom were transported to hospitals. Two adults were transported to a trauma center, while four adults and four children sustained “mild to moderate” injuries, Goldstein said.
