Firefighters in Washington, D.C., were captured on video at the moment when an explosion ripped through a convenience store, shaking them backwards, minutes after a similar explosion went off at a nursery school next door.
Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly told reporters Thursday that in both of the explosions in the Southeast Anacostia neighborhood, first responders discovered leaking gas meters that had previously been struck by vehicles in front of the buildings. He said it happened later.
Footage of the second explosion, taken from the on-board camera of the first fire truck to arrive at the scene, shows three firefighters responding as the violent explosion sends debris onto the road.
One person in the background appears to be hit by debris before falling to the ground. Mr Donnelly said their injuries were minor.
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On Thursday, January 18th, an explosion destroyed a convenience store in southeast Washington, DC. (DC Fire and EMS/Local News X/TMX)
Fire crews were first dispatched to the area around 9:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call about a gas leak.
Donnelly said first responders began evacuating the building and about 25 minutes later, the first explosion and fire started in the building housing the daycare center.
“When I saw the building itself, my mouth dropped open,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the scene. “If the children had been in that building, they would definitely have been affected by the explosion.”
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A person (right) walking next to a truck is seen hit by debris during the explosion in Washington, D.C. (DC Fire and EMS/Local News X/TMX)
A second explosion then occurred at a convenience store next door, causing the building to collapse, Donnelly said.
Firefighters determined that the gas meter was leaking in the area under the shutoff valve and was out of control at the time.
Fire and EMS Lt. Ryan Bolton said child care staff were preparing children for evacuation when firefighters arrived.
All 16 children at the nursery school were then reunited with their families.
Immediately after the explosion, firefighters sprayed water on the building. (DC Fire and EMS/Local News X/TMX)
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“It's really an amazing job by the first responders and the daycare operators. We're so proud of them,” Ms Donnelly said.
