Va. Firefighter Killed in Gas Leak Explosion

Sterling firefighter’s LODD is the third in six years involving a gas leak investigation

By Bill Carey
18 February 2024

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. — A Sterling volunteer firefighter was killed and 11 firefighters and two civilians were injured in an explosion while investigating an outside gas leak on Feb. 16, according to a statement from Loudoun County Fire-Rescue.

Firefighter Trevor Brown, 45, of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company was killed. Four firefighters remain hospitalized according to the department.

On Feb. 16, fire companies responded to a call reporting an odor of gas outside of a house in Sterling. Firefighters found a 500-gallon underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the residence and requested the county hazardous materials response team and additional fire companies.

Shortly after, an explosion occurred while many firefighters were inside the house resulting in several maydays and searches for trapped firefighters.

Firefighter Brown was declared deceased on the scene. His body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia to determine the cause and nature of death.

An investigation into the explosion is ongoing.

The last time a firefighter was killed during an investigation of an outside gas leak was on Sept. 16, 2019 in Farmington, Maine. Firefighters responded to a possible propane leak outside of a commercial structure.

During the investigation, an explosion occurred while firefighters were inside the structure. Farmington Captain Michael Bell was killed and six firefighters were injured.

Investigators determined that improperly installed bollards severed the propane supply line, and other errors in installation and testing contributed to the leak and explosion.

Prior to the incident in Maine, the next line-of-duty death involving a gas leak and explosion was on July 10, 2018 in Sun Prairie, Wis.

Featured image courtesy of Loudoun County Fire-Rescue/X.