Sterling, Virginia house explosion: 1 firefighter killed, 13 injured following gas leak

An explosion at a house in Virginia has left one firefighter dead and 13 others injured including 11 first responders and two other individuals, authorities say.

The firefighter killed has been identified as 45-year-old Trevor Brown, according to a Facebook post by Loudon County Fire and Rescue.

The fire department responded to a report of a gas odor coming from a residence on Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling around 7:38 p.m. on Friday evening.

After arriving to the residence, the department found a 500-gallon underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the residence.

The Loudoun County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team was then called the scene, the fire department said.

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Explosion leads to catastrophe

Firefighters at the scene said moments later the explosion quickly turned catastrophic that prompted multiple maydays from firefighters inside the residence.

To help with the explosion, units from Fairfax County and the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority were called, the department said.

Fire and rescue crews worked to locate everyone trapped by the debris from the explosion.

One firefighter was pronounced dead at the scene and 11 other first responders were transported to a local hospital for medical treatment.

Two more individuals were transported to area hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries, the fire department said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue Fire Marshal’s Office.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sterling, Virginia house explosion leaves 1 firefighter dead, 13 hurt