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Thread: Death toll rises to 2 people, Joseph Graham (20) and Lonnie Herriott (61), from Baltimore gas explosion

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    Death toll rises to 2 people, Joseph Graham (20) and Lonnie Herriott (61), from Baltimore gas explosion

    https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/...timore-latest/

    BALTIMORE (WJZ) ? One person was killed and seven people were injured after a gas explosion in a northwest Baltimore neighborhood Monday morning.

    Crews continue searching the rubble with the help of K9 units to find any other victims. On Monday afternoon, they pulled another victim out of the rubble; no information on the person?s status is available.

    Large equipment was also being brought in to help move the debris out of the way.

    The explosion happened around 9:54 a.m. in the area of Reisterstown Road and Brookhill Road near Labyrinth Road. Three homes collapsed and the force of the explosion and debris blew out windows and doors in nearby homes.

    Baltimore City fire officials said a woman died and at least five others were taken to area hospitals to be treated, some with critical injuries. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.
    One man told WJZ?s Paul Gessler that three members of his family were injured in the explosion, but all are expected to recover.

    Reisterstown Road is closed between Clarks Lane and Fallstaff Road. Motorists are advised to take alternative routes.

    City councilman Isaac ?Yitzy? Schleifer said housing inspectors are on scene to inspect the homes in the area and that there?s been damage reported five blocks away.

    City crews are also helping residents board up damaged windows and doors while the American Red Cross is helping displaced residents.

    Neighbors and other groups are also on scene handing out water and food. The group is also collecting donations of clothing, food and other essentials outside the Applebees in Reisterstown Plaza.

    They?ll also have counselors present.

    ?Once we find out how many people cannot return to their homes, we?ll make arrangements for them to find a safe secure place to stay tonight, most likely a hotel,? an official said.

    On Tuesday, the Red Cross will work one-on-one with the families whose homes have been destroyed, who have injured family members, who have lost a loved one. Their services will include mental health, spiritual health, and health services. They?ll also have volunteers providing financial assistance information and referrals.

    Baltimore Gas & Electric is on the scene and the gas is being turned off in the immediate area. BGE crews are investigating what caused the explosion.

    ?The cause of this morning?s explosion in northwest Baltimore is currently unknown. BGE responded to the scene at the Fire Department?s request to shut off gas and electric service in the area to make the scene safe. BGE has canvassed the area and found no current readings of gas. Once fire rescue is complete, we will begin the process of working with the Fire Department to investigate BGE equipment in the area. These inspections will include the gas mains, service piping leading to properties and gas meters.

    Customer-owned appliances and piping will also be investigated. Area inspections will encompass homes and gas equipment in a wide area to ensure there is no additional damage. In addition, BGE is reviewing records for this area, including any reported gas odors, recent inspection results and repairs. We are working with the Fire Department to ensure continued safety and to aid in its investigation. As always, immediate reporting of any gas odors or issues is critical to public safety.

    If you suspect a gas leak or have any gas concerns where you live or work, get to a safe location and report it to BGE immediately by calling (877) 778-7798 or by calling 911. BGE will respond 24 hours a day to investigate and make the situation safe. For non-gas leak concerns, please call (800) 685-0123. For additional information about gas safety and what to do in a gas emergency visit www.BGE.com/gassafety.?

    Tasha Jamerson, with BGE, said residents should continue to report if they smell gas. Call 1-877-685-0123.

    As of 6 p.m. Monday, 38 customers were without gas service. More than 200 had been without power, but crews have since restored electricity in the area.

    In a Citizen app video you can see the immediate aftermath of the explosion of the scene. Note: Language is NSFW.

    Three Rescued, Additional People Trapped After Three-Home Explosion @CitizenApp

    Brookhill Rd & Reisterstown Rd 9:48:20 AM EDThttps://citizen.com/static/scripts/embed.js

    Eyewitnesses told WJZ they heard a large boom and felt the ground shake for at least a four-block radius. Debris was seen scattered in the roadway and there?s rubble where three homes stood.

    ?I heard a kaboom and I thought it was a car or something and when I came out, I seen the debris and something?s gone, totally gone,? one man told WJZ reporter Paul Gessler.

    Another man, Dean Jones, told WJZ when he heard the explosion he ran from his home without any shoes. When he arrived at where the explosion happened he could hear someone saying ?help? from under the rubble.

    Credit: WJZ/ Chopper 13

    ?It was catastrophic. It was like a bomb, like you watch things in other countries where they have like bombings and things like that,? Jones said. ?It was like watching that in real life. Telephone poles split, I mean, houses down the block, broken glass. When I initially got there, I could hear a voice just saying ?Help,? it?s crazy. It?s something I don?t ever wanna see ever again; I don?t want to relive it ever again.?

    He said he did all he could to help until first responders arrived. Jones said he smelled smoke and gas at the scene.

    From Chopper 13, you could see just how large the explosion area is and you could see how far the debris spread.

    Nearby residents were evacuated from their homes, many sitting in the shade because it?s so hot outside. Many people are wearing masks due to COVID-19, trying to stay safe while helping their neighbors.

    Many homes in the area don?t have power ? at least 230 customers, and gas ? meaning no air conditioning on this hot day. WJZ reporters and other eyewitnesses at the scene said they have smelled gas at the scene today.

    Employees at the nearby Applebees told WJZ they could feel the explosion a couple of blocks away.

    Gov. Larry Hogan thanked first responders and said state officials are monitoring the situation.

    In a statement, Hogan also said:

    ?This morning, an explosion destroyed three homes in the Reisterstown Station neighborhood in northwest Baltimore. First responders are still performing rescue operations, and several victims have been transported to area hospitals. So far, we know that the explosion has taken one life. Our prayers are with the victims and all those affected by this tragedy.?

    ?The Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Maryland Emergency Management Agency, and the Maryland Public Service Commission are all assisting on the ground. We continue to offer the State of Maryland?s full support to local officials.?

    Several fire companies from nearby counties, like Baltimore and Howard counties, are helping with the search as well as the ATF, Maryland State Fire Marshal?s Office, FEMA and the American Red Cross.

    ATF Baltimore Special Agents and Explosives Enforcement Officer are responding to assist our @BaltimoreFire partners at the scene of an explosion at Labyrinth and Reisterstown Roads involving 3 homes. Follow @BaltimoreFire for updates on this incident. pic.twitter.com/kyIsEAGHSI

    ? ATF Baltimore (@ATFBaltimore) August 10, 2020

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    Here is fallout from the scene.

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    https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/...timore-latest/

    Update the number of victims killed has been changed to 2 people killed 7 injured

    BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Two people were killed and seven people were injured in a gas explosion in a northwest Baltimore neighborhood Monday morning.

    Crews continue searching the rubble with the help of K9 units to find any other victims. On Monday afternoon, they pulled another victim out of the rubble; no information on the person’s status is available.

    Large equipment was also brought in to help move the debris out of the way.

    LATEST: Baltimore Gas Explosion Kills 2, Injures 7; Crews Continue To Clear Rubble

    A Community Rocked
    The explosion happened around 9:54 a.m. in the area of Reisterstown Road and Brookhill Road near Labyrinth Road. Three homes collapsed and the force of the explosion and debris blew out windows and doors in nearby homes.



    Baltimore City fire officials said a woman and a man died and seven others were taken to area hospitals to be treated, some with critical injuries. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

    A security camera caught the blast:


    One man told WJZ’s Paul Gessler that three members of his family were injured in the explosion, but all are expected to recover.
    Reisterstown Road is closed between Clarks Lane and Fallstaff Road. Motorists are advised to take alternative routes. In addition, gas service remains off in part of the 4200 block of Labyrinth Road.

    The gas infrastructure in the area dates back to the early 1960s and was last inspected in June and July 2019, Baltimore Gas & Electric said. Prior to Monday’s explosion, there had been no gas odors reported in the area.

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    Death toll rises to 2 people (Joseph Graham, 20) from Baltimore gas explosion

    https://www.wsls.com/news/2020/08/11...gas-explosion/

    BALTIMORE ' Two people are now confirmed dead following a natural gas explosion that destroyed three row houses in Baltimore and sent seven people to the hospital, authorities said Tuesday.

    A man was pulled from the debris shortly before 1 a.m. Baltimore Fire Department spokeswoman Blair Adams said at a morning news conference.

    Family members identified him as Joseph Graham, 20, a student at Morgan State University who had attended a party at one of the row homes that was destroyed.

    Sunshine Evans told WMAR-TV that Graham, her nephew, was in the home with two other of her family members when the structure collapsed. They were rushed to the hospital, she said.

    Isaac Graham, an uncle of Joseph Graham, had told The Baltimore Sun on Monday that his nephew attended a party with one of his best friends and decided to spend the night. He said his nephew was a 'good kid' who was studying at Morgan State and recently launched his own clothing line.

    Ty'lor Schnella, a friend of Graham's, told the newspaper that he 'was always the one that kept everyone uplifted, kept your spirits high.'

    Friends were in disbelief over his death.

    'Everyone was like, 'Not Joseph.' I would never think something like this could happen to him,' Schnella said.

    Morgan State said in a statement that Graham was a rising sophomore pursuing an electrical engineering degree. The university said it mourns 'the tragic loss of life as a result of this calamitous event and offer our deepest sympathies to the Graham family.'

    Meanwhile, authorities have not identified a woman who was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after Monday morning's explosion. Seven others were hospitalized, five in critical condition, said Adams, the fire department spokeswoman. The conditions of the other two were still being determined, she said.

    More than 200 people in the neighborhood were affected by the blast, and about 30 have utilized temporary shelter since the explosion, she said.

    The natural gas explosion leveled three row houses and ripped open a fourth, trapping people in the debris and scattering shards of glass and other rubble over the northwest Baltimore neighborhood of Reisterstown Station. Dozens of firefighters converged on the scene to free the injured.

    'It's a disaster. It's a mess. It's unbelievable,' said Diane Glover, who lives across the street. Her windows where shattered and her front door was blown open.

    The exact cause remains unknown, and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. appealed for patience as they investigate. No gas odors were reported before the explosion, and BGE did not receive any recent gas odor calls from the block of homes that were damaged, the utility said in a statement late Monday.

    BGE also said it last inspected the area's gas mains and services in June and July of 2019 and no leaks were found.

    BGE said in a statement on Tuesday that it was providing information to the Baltimore Fire Department and other investigators regarding "the flows of gas and electricity on customer-owned equipment.'

    The Baltimore Sun reported last year that dangerous gas leaks have become much more frequent, with nearly two dozen discovered each day on average, according to the utility's reports to federal authorities. BGE has said it has thousands of miles of obsolete pipes that need to be replaced, an effort that would cost nearly $1 billion and take two decades, the newspaper said.

    BGE asked the Maryland Public Service Commission to approve a new gas system infrastructure and a cost recovery mechanism in late 2017 to pay for upgrades.

    'Founded in 1816, BGE is the oldest gas distribution company in the nation. Like many older gas systems, a larger portion of its gas main and services infrastructure consists of cast iron and bare steel ' materials that are obsolete and susceptible to failure with age,' the PSC wrote in a 2018 order approving a modernization plan.

    This area's gas infrastructure was installed in the early 1960s. When aging pipes fail, they tend to make headlines. Last year, a gas explosion ripped the fa'ade off a Maryland office complex in Columbia, affecting more than 20 businesses. No one was injured in the explosion early on a Sunday morning. In 2016, a gas main break forced the evacuation of the Baltimore County Circuit Courthouse. Under Armour Inc. had to evacuate its Baltimore office after a gas main break in 2012.

    Last edited by up2trouble; 08-11-2020 at 05:29 PM.

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    http://mydeathspace.com/vb/showthrea...own-Road-Plaza

    Agree to Merge these two threads because at the time I started the Baltimore Explosion Thread the Victims identity was not known yet.

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    Quote Originally Posted by JohnLanders View Post
    http://mydeathspace.com/vb/showthrea...own-Road-Plaza

    Agree to Merge these two threads because at the time I started the Baltimore Explosion Thread the Victims identity was not known yet.
    That's fine with me. T thought there was one but I couldn't find it. Glad to know that I haven't lost my mind ... yet!

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    https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2020/...joseph-graham/

    Update the Second Victim has been identified as Lonnie Herriott (61) who was also killed in the Gas explosion

    ALTIMORE (WJZ) — Fire officials have identified the victims of the deadly gas explosion in northwest Baltimore on Monday as a 61-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man.

    The Baltimore City Fire Department said firefighters found Lonnie Herriott’s body just before noon on Monday, hours after the explosion rocked the neighborhood. Just before 1 a.m. Tuesday, crews pulled Joseph Graham’s body from the rubble.

    Morgan State University officials told WJZ Tuesday that Graham was a rising sophomore pursing a degree in electrical engineering.

    Seven others were injured including a 34-year-old man who’s in critical condition. A 20-year-old man and a 65-year-old man remain hospitalized in stable condition. While a 27-year-old woman, a 37-year-old woman, a 64-year-old man and a 93-year-old man were all discharged from the hospital.

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    https://www.baltimoresun.com/marylan...4t4-story.html

    More on the fallout


    Baltimore Gas and Electric Co.‘s equipment was not the cause of the gas explosion in Northwest Baltimore that killed two people and seriously injured at least seven others, the utility company said Thursday, indicating that it believed customer-owned equipment might have been at fault.

    The company said in a statement that an inspection of its gas and electrical equipment serving the 4200 block of Labyrinth Road “found that all of its equipment — gas mains, gas service pipes and gas meters, as well as electric equipment — has been operating safely.”



    As the investigation into the cause of the blast enters its fifth day Friday, the utility company and various city, state and federal agencies are turning their attention to possible gas leaks in customer-owned pipes and appliances inside the destroyed homes, BGE CEO Carim V. Khouzami said in a phone interview Thursday.

    BGE operates the electrical and gas equipment up to and including a house’s meter. But, like with water pipes or electrical wiring, the gas pipes and other equipment that connect the meter to appliances inside of a house, as well as the appliances themselves, are the responsibility of the homeowner.




    “We’ve eliminated some things from question,” Khouzami said. “We’re moving on to other areas, like what was going on inside the house. ... Ultimately, the goal is to stop these things from happening.”
    ‘I should not have been able to walk away’: Northwest Baltimore woman recounts being rescued by neighbors after gas explosion ?

    Investigators also are looking into the specific events leading up to the Monday morning blast that killed 20-year-old Morgan State sophomore Joseph Graham and 61-year-old Lonnie Herriott.




    There had been no complaints of gas leaks at the affected properties in the past five years, and no customers reported an odor of gas to BGE the day of the explosion, according to the company.

    However, Leon Phillips, 64, who lived at 4232 Labyrinth Road, said he smelled “a little bit of gas” when he woke up at around 5 a.m. Monday to get ready for his shift at Lenny’s Deli in Owings Mills. He would’ve reported it, he said, but he stopped noticing the smell as he moved around the house.

    “I wasn’t smelling much of it,” he said in an interview Thursday. “It wasn’t strong at all.”

    He got to work by 7 a.m. By 10 a.m., firefighters were rushing to his house. He said he told an investigator about the smell after he got back to the scene.

    Phillips said he’s never noticed a gas smell before at the home, where he’s lived several years. He said there was someone at the house Sunday doing some sort of maintenance work, but he did not know exactly what the work involved.

    Robin and Leroy Johnson, of Owings Mills, who own the three properties that were leveled in the explosion, as well as an adjacent fourth home that was condemned, did not respond to a message left at a number listed for them Thursday.
    Northwest Baltimore gas explosion: a timeline of events ?

    While the cause of the explosion is still undetermined, local contractor Jonathan Koscielski, owner of Eleet Appliance Repair, said one of the more common issues with customer-owned equipment involves the flexible line connecting gas appliances like stoves to the rigid gas line running through the walls of the home.

    These flexible lines allow appliances to be moved when they’re serviced, but over time, they can become damaged, causing gas leaks.

    “When you take a paper clip and you keep bending it from one side to the other over time, what happens to the paper clip is it snaps,” Koscielski said.

    Homeowners should replace these flexible lines whenever they replace a gas appliance, said Dean Landers, president of Landers Appliance, which is based in Rosedale.

    Most appliances that run on gas, including water heaters, dryers and furnaces, have safety devices built in to prevent leaks, Landers said. But issues can arise nonetheless, particularly with ineffective burners on gas stoves.

    “A lot of them, you could turn it, and if the sparker’s not working, it’ll continue to try to spark. But the gas comes out,” Landers said.

    But Landers expressed surprise that no one reported the gas leak prior to the explosion, adding that a high volume of gas would be necessary to cause that much damage.

    “Maybe it was in a lower portion of the house where nobody would have smelled it, because gas is heavy. It’ll sit on the floor,” Landers said. “Obviously the furnace, the hot water heater and the dryer are normally in the lower level.”

    It’s also important to hire a licensed contractor when installing a new gas appliance, Koscielski said, like a plumber or electrician with a gas fitting license.

    “I see it all the time where people don’t want to pay for that licensed guy,” Koscielski said. “That’s when your problems can occur.”

    The destroyed rental properties passed their city-required inspections in 2019. Inspection records don’t shed much light on what might have gone wrong to cause the gas explosion.

    Three of the four affected properties — 4228, 4230 and 4234 Labyrinth Road — are licensed rentals, while a fourth — 4232 — was registered as non-owner-occupied but was not licensed as a rental, according to the Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development.

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    Here is a Profile on Lonnie Herriott.

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