HOWARD COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) – Authorities condemn six townhouses in Columbia after a massive fire and explosion Wednesday night.

WJZ’s Christie Ileto has more.

Workers secure what’s left of the 12000 block of Sleepy Horse Lane after an explosion triggers a 3-alarm fire that nearly levels six homes.

Howard County fire investigators now confirm the source of the blast is a damaged gas assembly and a high level of gas in the garage of one of the units.









The discovery was made by a BGE worker early Wednesday after Andrea Gershman’s family reported the odor.

Gershman says within minutes the BGE technician told her to get out of the house. She tells WJZ, by the time they made it to the sidewalk the house next door just exploded.

Fortunately no one was inside the homes at the time of the explosion, but in a neighborhood that’s only 20-years-old or so, some residents are asking how secure, maintained is their gas line?

“I never even thought that this could happen here, so I do have a concern,” said Tanya Graham.

Fire investigators say they’re inspecting other homes for structural stability.

Only two people were injured in the blast, one for smoke inhalation and the other, a BGE worker who suffered blast injuries.

Officials remind residents if you detect gas, leave the residence and call 9-1-1 immediately, then call BGE at 1-800-685-0123

Damages are estimated at approximately two million dollars.