BGE contractor, homeowner die in house explosion in Harford County

BALTIMORE-- A Baltimore Gas and Electric contractor and a 73-year-old man believed to be a homeowner died in a house explosion Sunday morning in Harford County. A neighbor was also injured and 12 families in the community have been displaced.

Oliver Alkire, from the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office, said the house was for sale, and the homeowner, who used a wheelchair, was expected to meet with a realtor.

"He was home, from my understanding and the information we received, he was actually preparing to list his home for sale today," Alkire said. "He was actually prepared to meet with a realtor today and list that today." 

What led to the house explosion

Emergency responders said a gas leak in the 2300 block of Arthurs Woods Drive in Bel Air South turned into a house explosion shortly after 6:30 a.m.

Alkire said some kind of electrical event was reported around the home Saturday night and BGE decided to send a crew to check it out Sunday morning after an initial examination.

Before that crew arrived, a Harford County public works worker called 911 to report a gas leak. The worker left before BGE arrived and the explosion happened not long after.

One of the BGE contractors, a 35-year-old, was found dead at the home, while the homeowner was found later in the debris.

BGE confirmed they had contractors at the home at the time of the explosion. 

"There were about 60 personnel on scene from the start of the incident," said Harford County Fire and EMS spokesperson Jeffrey Sexton. 

The Maryland State Fire Marshal is leading the collaborated investigation with the Harford County Sheriff's Office and ATF to find the cause of the explosion. 

The Harford County Department of Emergency Services opened a hotline for residents to report information relating to the blast. They urge anyone who smells gas or has experienced damage to their home to contact them at 410-838-5800.

"I thought a bomb exploded"

Neighbors woke up Sunday morning to a loud boom. The impact was felt blocks away. Some thought it might be an earthquake, while others thought it could be something else.

"You had no idea what was going on. I thought a bomb exploded," said Kathy Genova, who lives near the explosion site.

Multiple homeowners nearby reported broken windows and seeing debris falling from the sky.

"I woke up and the windows were all out of place," Genova said. 

Neighbors were rattled after learning the explosion killed two people. 

"I got out of my house and everyone in my neighborhood was basically like 'what just happened?'" neighbor Katie Hershel said.

"Windows out, sliding glass door frames completely up ,cabinets open, things off the walls," Genova said.

"I looked, and saw, I felt like lightning at my house, so I was like looking for damage, but I didn't visibly see anything," Hershel added. "Just a lot of debris on like our main road behind our house."

Neighbors concerned for safety

Some neighbors attended an emergency responders' briefing Sunday morning to ask if it was safe to return home.

"In case there may be structural damage and foundational damages," said neighbor Lisa Czawlytko. "We wanted to know if we need to evacuate or not."

"The more you walk around the more you see. I am seeing cracks in my ceiling," Genova said.

Debris from the explosion landed nearly half of a mile away.

"The debris field is wide," Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly said. "Big pieces of debris in a pretty wide area and insulation is still coming down like a snowfall."

Cassilly said emergency responders from around the county are working around the clock to make sure everyone who was impacted gets the help they need. 

"Our structural engineers are looking at their houses to make sure nobody else's house has a structural concern, lots of windows out from the blast and debris," Cassilly said.

Harbaugh offers condolences

Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh learned about the explosion and offered his condolences.

"We just want to say our prayers and our thoughts are going out for all those involved in the Bel Air house explosion that happened," Harbaugh said. "We want to express that to all of the families and friends who are involved in that right now, all the first responders as well. We just encourage everybody's safety and do the best in those areas to be safe."