Maryland Gas Explosion

Employees working at the Penn Mar shopping center in Prince George County, Maryland, called 911 on the afternoon of Thursday, May 7, 2009, after smelling leaking natural gas. Employees from six stores were evacuated from the building.WUSA9 (DC): 8 Firefighters And 1 Washington Gas Employee Burned In... Explosion

Just moments after firefighters arrived, the building exploded, injuring eight firefighters and one employee of Washington Gas.WUSA9 (DC): 8 Firefighters And 1 Washington Gas Employee Burned In... Explosion

Explosion

At roughly 1:30 p.m. local time, employees at the Forestville Pregnancy Center noticed a strong smell of natural gas and called 911. Authorities arrived on the scene shortly thereafter and evacuated the center, as well as a pizza place, Subway sandwich shop and other stores in the strip mall. Just after the evacuation, the building exploding, sending glass and metal over 70 feet from the storefronts and destroying the back wall of the building. The roof also lifted up and fell into the store.Gazette.net: Six Injured in Forestville Strip Mall Explosion

According to reports, eight firefighters and one Washington Gas employee were injured in the blast. Two firefighters were released with minor burns, while two others were being held overnight. The condition of the others injured was not immediately announced.WUSA9 (DC): 8 Firefighters And 1 Washington Gas Employee Burned In... Explosion