UPDATE (Feb. 17, 5:20 p.m. EST):
The fallen firefighter has been identified as Firefighter Trevor Brown of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company. He has reportedly been affiliated with the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System since 2016.
UPDATE (Feb. 16, 11:16 p.m. EST):
Loudoun County Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams told WJLA that the firefighters responded to a home located at 347 Silver Ridge Drive around 7:40 p.m. Once firefighters were inside the residence, the home exploded.
One firefighter was killed. Nine firefighters and two civilians were injured.
EARLIER:
By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. - Fire crews on the scene of a gas leak in Sterling were reportedly caught in an explosion that injured several firefighters.
The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company posted on X that firefighters were called to Silver Ridge Drive for a gas leak shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 16, WUSA9 reported.
Engine 618, Engine 611, and Truck 611 responding to SILVER RIDGE DR for the GAS LEAK [Fri 07:38 PM]
— Sterling VFC (@SterlingFire) February 17, 2024
CAN 611 dispatched to SILVER RIDGE DR for the STRUCTURE FIRE with @AshburnFire and @FFXFireRescue [Fri 08:25 PM]
— Sterling VFC (@SterlingFire) February 17, 2024
Video from above the scene showed a fire and debris where a house once stood.
NBC Washington reported that a mayday had been transmitted for a firefighter trapped by debris.
An unknown number of injured firefighters and civilians were transported to local hospitals according to LoudounNow.com. Two victims were transported to the burn center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C.
LoudounNow.com and WUSA9 reported that all firefighters have been accounted for.