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Explosion a good reminder there are no 'routine' calls
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The fire and emergency services community in Maryland was spared a tragedy today when eight Prince Georges County firefighters narrowly escaped with their lives following a massive explosion at the scene of a gas leak in a row of commercial occupancies at the Penn Mar Shopping Center in Forestville.
Firefighters responded to 3426 Donnell Drive shortly before 1 p.m. for a reported odor of gas. While investigating the incident, crews had evacuated citizens from several stores in a strip-mall and a pair of firefighters were approaching the building when an explosion suddenly occurred, showering bricks, glass and other debris into the parking area in front of the complex. A flash fire caused flames and smoke to blow through the roof and fire officials called a “mayday”, bringing additional EMS units to the scene from PG County and the District of Columbia Fire Department.
Published reports indicate a Washington Gas employee was working on a gas line at the shopping complex when the explosion occurred. The injured firefighters and the gas company employee were transported to the Washington Hospital Center burn unit and Prince George’s Hospital. Several firefighters were released from the hospital within hours after the blast while several others will remain hospitalized overnight, officials said.None of the victims are reported to have life-threatening injuries.
Several stores were significantly damaged or destroyed as a result of the explosion. Businesses in the complex included a pregnancy center, several restaurants, a nail salon, a medical office, and at least one vacant storefront.
Although this was seemingly a “routine” call that firefighters across the region respond to hundreds of times a year, this incident is a good reminder that responders should always be prepared for anything to happen on a scene. Thankfully brother and sister firefighters are paying hospital visits instead of preparing for several line of duty funerals.
This incident also serves as an opportunity to remind emergency services professionals and the general public of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation “Everyone Goes Home” initiative www.everyonegoeshome.com aimed at preventing scene-related deaths and injuries. Tragically, more than 100 fire department personnel have died in the line of duty in six of the past seven years. In 2009 to date, 37 LODDs have been reported.
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