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A Virginia firefighter was killed and eleven other people were injured after a house explosion destroyed a residence Friday night.
At a news conference, Loudon County Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief of Operations James Williams said one firefighter was killed, nine firefighters and two civilians were injured after the explosion “totally devastated” a home in North Virginia.
Authorities said that at the time of the deadly explosion, firefighters were inside the home.
The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company posted on X that crews responded to reports of a gas leak that turned into a “structure fire” at the residence at 7:40 pm Friday night.
“Shortly after we arrived, the house exploded,” Williams said.
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Williams said the nine firefighters and two civilians were transported to local hospitals.
He said some had serious injuries.
Authorities did not identify the firefighter killed in the fire during the news conference, but said the community was deeply affected by the incident.
“It’s a huge physical and emotional toll on everyone associated with the fire department. Obviously, the people who are trapped, the rescuers who are going to try to get them out, the incident commander,” Williams said.
Residents said they heard a “huge boom” that “shaked” their entire house.
“A huge bang shook the whole house just now. I ran upstairs, outside with flashlights and all the neighbors were doing the same thing,” a Sterling resident told FOX 5. “Apparently a house blew up on a nearby street.”
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Photos from the scene showed a large police presence fighting a fire in the rubble of the house amid thick plumes of smoke.
According to FOX 5, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company reported that they are being assisted by the Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department and the Ashburn Fire Department.
The Luray Fire Department took to Facebook to support their fellow firefighters, writing, “Please keep the Loudoun County firefighters in your thoughts and prayers.”
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