Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials stated that the explosion and fire which killed seven people at a Maryland apartment complex was caused by natural gas explosion in the apartment's meter room. The ATF and the National Transportation Safety Board have begun investigating what ignited the gas. Three of the seven victims were also identified by Montgomery County police. Photo by ATF HQ/Twitter
Seventh Body Found at Site of Massive Apartment Explosion in Silver Spring
ATF: Natural gas explosion caused Maryland apartment fire
By Daniel Uria | Aug. 20, 2016 at 1:30 PM
SILVER SPRING , Md., Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Natural gas was the cause of an explosion and fire that killed seven people in a Maryland apartment complex on Aug. 10.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives shared a photo of the aftermath and said a natural gas explosion in the apartment's meter room caused the deadly blast and and . They also stated there was no sign of a criminal act.
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"This tragedy was the result of a natural gas explosion that occurred in the meter room of Building 8701," ATF Special Agent in Charge Daniel Board said, according to NBC Washington. "Subsequent to that explosion was a natural gas-fed fire that consumed the apartments directly above and adjacent to the source of the fire."
Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Russ Hamill said bodies of three of the seven victims were also identified as Augusto Jimenez, Sr., 62; Maria Auxiliadorai Castellon-Martinez, 53, and Saul Paniagua, 65.
The ATF conducted more than 100 witness interviews, reviewed surveillance video, reconstructed gas meter lines and dug through debris by hand to determine what ignited the gas leak.
"From the site of the explosion itself, we're trying to find out what ignited or caused or started that explosion, as in the specific incident or specific item from inside that room," Board told WTOP.
Residents reported having smelled gas prior to the explosion and Montgomery County fire officials confirmed a call about a natural gas odor near the apartment on July 25.
Acting Fire Chief Alan Hinde said the fire department surveyed the building with a meter but found no positive results.
The National Transportation Safety Board began its own investigation into the blast on Thursday and aim to complete it within a year.
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Seventh Body Found at Site of Massive Apartment Explosion in Silver Spring
By Chris Gordon
Senator Ben Cardin and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett got a firsthand look at the destruction caused by a blast at a Silver Spring apartment building. They also met with residents affected by the explosion. News4's Chris Gordon reports. (Published Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2016)
A seventh body was found Tuesday at the site of a massive explosion and fire at a Silver Spring, Maryland, apartment complex last week.
The news of the seventh body was released Tuesday evening.
Six other bodies have been recovered. The victims have yet to be positively identified, but authorities believe the victims are Saeda Ibrahim, 41; Augusto Jimenez Sr., age 62; Maria Auxiliadorai Castellon-Martinez, age 53; Aseged Mekonen, age 34; Deibi “David” Samir Lainez Morales, age 8; Fernando Josue Hernandez Orellana, age 3; and Saul Paniagua, age 65.
Meanwhile, almost a week after the blast, residents who have been allowed to return say they are living in fear.
"They were sleeping in the car for a while," said one resident in Spanish. "Now they've returned to the apartments, but they're afraid to turn the gas stove on. They're afraid to cook."
A massive explosion tore through a building at the Flower Branch Apartments in the 8700 block of Arliss Street at about 11:50 p.m. August 10.
Another 31 people were injured, and scores of families were displaced or traumatized. Some of the families are asking for psychological help.
"One hundred percent of the families don't sleep, because everybody is scared," said a resident of a nearby building.
The cause of the blast has not been determined, but some residents have said they smelled gas before the explosion.
At a meeting with officials Tuesday in the community center, residents received reassurances that Washington Gas has checked out the surrounding buildings.
"The residents of the adjacent buildings should not experience a problem with their gas. If they do, they should certainly contact us," said Earl Stoddard of Montgomery County Emergency Services.
But the fear remains.
"We can't do regular things," said Christy Canjura, a young resident. "We simply can't go through our day without ever thinking of that traumatic experience that we all had that night."
U.S. Sen. Ben Cardin told the community that he and other officials understand the trauma, and are working on getting the help that's needed.
"You look at this and this is about as bad as you can find of a tragedy. I just cannot imagine what went through the thoughts of people who were trapped in these buildings," Cardin said, after touring the scene.
"There are certainly mental issues that are gonna have to be need to be dealt with. There is going to be fear," Cardin said. "One of the services we are looking at providing is how we can meet those needs."
And the families will get other help, too. Two of the elementary schools that serve the area are already having discussions about how they will support young students headed back to school.
Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett said the community was immediately concerned about housing. "The challenge that we heard today is most immediately that of trying to find provisional housing and permanent housing for people," he said. "And we'll be able to do so."
Cardin emphasized that people should feel comfortable asking for help no matter what their immigration status. The apartments are in an area where many immigrants live, some documented, some not.
"There's a concern in immigrant communities about whether they can trust governmental services. I wanted them to know that ... this is all about providing help," Cardin said.
Meanwhile, fire investigtors say they are getting closer to announcing the cause of the blast. They said they hoped to have something finalized by the end of this week.