Family Of 5 Survives After Escaping Home Before Explosion
WOODBINE, MD (WJZ)-- One Howard County family is picking up the pieces Saturday after losing their home in an apparent gas explosion overnight.
The family and their dog made it out of their home after smelling gas in their kitchen.
Investigators say a cause is likely to be determined next week.
Authorities urge anyone that thinks they smell gas in their homes, to do as this family did, and leave.
Piles of debris still smoldering -- it's all that's left of this Woodbine home.
Scores of firefighters including some from neighboring Carroll County sousing the home that off the 15000 block of Bushy Park Road that went up in flames after a suspected gas explosion.
RADIO: "Callers advising smell of gas inside the kitchen"
Radio calls obtained by WJZ reveal that within minutes of the initial calls for a gas leak, firefighters arrived to a home in pieces.
RADIO "The house is exploded, it's fully involved, we're in defensive mode."
Amazingly, there were no injuries.
They immediately left. They made sure the whole family was out," said Denise Weist, Public Information Officer for Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue
Teams of investigators and now the fed are looking in the cause they admit is a rare occurrence in the county.
"I've never heard of an incident quite like this," Weist said.
A fire marshal official told WJZ the family is receiving support from neighbors and will not need Red Cross assistance.
The property damage is estimated to be around $300,000 dollars.
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