Firefighter killed, 11 others injured in gas leak explosion in Virginia

A firefighter was killed while 11 others were injured in an explosion possibly caused by a gas leak that levelled a home in Loudoun County, Virginia, Friday night, reported CBS News citing authorities. 

Fire officials revealed that firefighters were called to a home on Silver Ridge Drive by a report of a gas smell shortly after 7:30pm and a fiery explosion followed about 30 minutes later.

According to James Williams, assistant chief of operations for Loudon County Fire and Rescue, the blast and fire occurred while firefighters were inside the building.

"Soon after arrival, with firefighters inside, the house did explode," Williams said during a news conference.

Williams revealed that one firefighter was killed while nine firefighters and two civilians were taken to hospitals, with injuries ranging from limited to severe.

Photos from the scene showed a large law enforcement presence battling a fire among the home's rubble amid thick plumes of smoke, Fox News reported.

Williams said that the cause of the fire was under investigation.

Furthermore, in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company said its crews had responded to a report of a gas leak before the blast.

"We have all firefighters out of the building. The fire will continue to smoulder," Williams said.

"It’s a huge physical and emotional toll on everyone associated with the fire department. Obviously, the people who are trapped, the rescuers that are going in to try to pull them out, the incident commander," Williams said.

Williams described damage to the home as "total devastation."