Following an explosion, fire, and building collapse on Thursday morning in Montgomery County, Maryland, ten individuals were brought into hospitals with injuries. Many are yet to be accounted for. According to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson Pete Piringer, fire and rescue crews installed perimeter security fences around the apartment complex.
“There are folks that have not been located,” said Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, although he would not specify how many, highlighting that it remains to be seen why they were missing, stating that they may just have been at work. He added that three of the victims were sent to the hospital with critical injuries and that close to 100 people have been displaced. The explosion occurred in a building at the Friendly Garden Apartments in Silver Spring close to 10:30 AM, which has now been deemed hazardous.
