Firefighters control blaze at townhouses, account for people

A heroic gas worker ordered a family out of a house minutes before an explosion ripped through a neighboring property in Columbia.

A Baltimore Gas & Electric worker who was investigating the odor of gas in the neighborhood suffered burns in the fire that engulfed the townhouses located in Columbia, about 30 minutes outside Baltimore.

Sources indicate that the blaze had spread to at least three townhouses in the Columbia neighborhood, and the callers reported hearing a massive explosion prior to officials arriving on the scene.

Firefighters say two people were taken to hospitals.

According to local resident Andrea Gershman, “The explosion was so loud…” A BGE worker came to the house to inspect the source of the gas leak.

‘I’ve never seen anything like it, ‘ he said.

Fire Chief John Butler said at a news conference that, ‘At this time, we believe everyone is accounted for’.

Howard County Fire personnel did not say what caused the explosion, but the fire is under control. Window frames and other debris littered the parking lots and sidewalks.