Authorities in Gaithersburg, Maryland, are launching a criminal investigation into an apartment explosion that caused a partial building collapse Wednesday, killing one person and injuring 14, fire officials said.
At least 100 firefighters and emergency personnel responded to the scene after reports of an explosion and fire around 8:40 a.m. on Wednesday, setting off a massive multi-day search and rescue operation, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue officials said. Efforts to locate residents and possible missing victims will continue Friday.
An unidentified person was found dead Thursday morning by K9 units and a fire rescue team searching through the rubble, Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said at a news conference.
Authorities hope to identify the dead man by Friday, Montgomery County Sheriff Marcus Jones said.
As crews continue to search the scene for possible victims and work to clear debris, police are investigating the cause of the explosion.
“We’re looking at the possibility that this was a criminal, intentional act,” Jones said Thursday, declining to elaborate. “We’re missing a lot of other evidence.”
Fire crews were battling a “gas-fueled fire” in the basement of the building Wednesday as utility workers tried to shut off natural gas to the facility, Goldstein said Wednesday. Officials have not yet released an official cause of the fire and explosion.
At least 10 people, including 4 children, were taken to the hospital with injuries ranging from mild to critical, according to Goldstein. At least two people were treated at the scene and refused to go to the hospital, he said.
Two apartment buildings, each with six units, were affected by the fire, the fire chief previously said. Two other buildings were evacuated Wednesday as authorities tried to hold residents of nine affected apartments accountable.
In a statement Wednesday, Washington Gas said the company supports the response to the incident and is “responding to assist the fire department at the scene.”
