Window Washers Rescued From Scaffolding After Explosion in BGE Building
110 W Fayette St, Downtown, Baltimore
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Summary
- Two workers were rescued from a dangling scaffolding and at least 21 people were injured after an explosion inside of a building in downtown Baltimore on Wednesday.
- Baltimore Fire Department crews responded to a report of an explosion at the Baltimore Gas & Electric building on the 100 block of West Fayette Street around 8:30 a.m.
- Two contractors, who were cleaning windows at the time of the explosion, were left dangling from the side of the building for nearly 30 minutes. According to officials, a BFD special operations team pulled the men to safety after breaking windows on the 10th and 11th floors of the building.
- Officials said the building was severely damaged after the blast which partially collapsed the roof, but was still considered structurally sound.
- According to the Baltimore Fire Department, 23 people in total were rescued from the building. Of those rescued, 21 were taken to local hospitals for treatment. At least nine people were reportedly in critical condition and one person was in serious condition. Two people refused treatment, officials said.
- Baltimore Gas & Electric said in a statement that construction work was underway on the building's air handling and boiler system, which likely caused the explosion.
- The building was largely empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming holidays.
- There were no elevated gas levels in the area following the blast.
- Various state and local agencies will work to determine the cause of the explosion.
Timeline
Firefighters advise the scaffolding flooring is unstable and could "fall at any moment."
Personnel from the respective utility companies will be shutting down electricity and gas to the building, according to firefighters.
Firefighters report that the building has been searched and they have not found any additional victims.
Firefighters advise that a crane and structural engineer will be coming to the scene to evaluate the building.
Firefighters report 20 people were injured, 10 of whom will be transported to the hospital while the other 10 are triaged on scene.
Firefighters report heavy structural damage on the 16th floor of the building, including a compromised wall.
Primary and secondary searches through the building have not turned up anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
Firefighters are now working to secure the loose scaffolding, which remains hanging precariously from the 11th floor.
Additional fire resources are being dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters are working to search the building for anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
The second worker has been rescued from the scaffolding.
Firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, but report there are currently no elevated gas levels.
The fire on the roof is under control. One injured patient has also been removed from the roof.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 110 W Fayette St.
Firefighters are continuing to work to rescue the second window washer from the scaffolding.
One of the workers has been rescued from the scaffolding, and is reported to be uninjured.
Firefighters report the majority of the fire is under control.
Firefighters are working to control the fire on the upper floors, while also working to rescue the window washers trapped on scaffolding from the 11th floor.
The building is owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
A fire is currently spreading to the roof.
One person is injured on the roof of the building. Firefighters are continuing to search for other possible injured people.
Smoldering debris is currently on fire.
Three injured people are being escorted out of the building.
Firefighters report a fire inside the building.
A building inspector has been requested to the scene.
A construction crew is being evacuated from the area.
The fire department is reporting an explosion occurred on one of the top floors of the building.
Medics are en route.
Citizen user Fernesskinner shows window washing scaffolding hanging to one side, with firefighters extending a ladder to the building.
Firefighters on the scene are requesting medic assistance for an injured person.
Additional firefighter units are en route.
Firefighters on the scene report no signs of a fire. They advise window washers fell from scaffolding.
Police on the scene report they are blocking traffic on Fayette Street.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a fire in an apartment.
Incident reported at N Liberty St & W Fayette St.
Firefighters advise the scaffolding flooring is unstable and could "fall at any moment."
Personnel from the respective utility companies will be shutting down electricity and gas to the building, according to firefighters.
Firefighters report that the building has been searched and they have not found any additional victims.
Firefighters advise that a crane and structural engineer will be coming to the scene to evaluate the building.
Firefighters report 20 people were injured, 10 of whom will be transported to the hospital while the other 10 are triaged on scene.
Firefighters report heavy structural damage on the 16th floor of the building, including a compromised wall.
Primary and secondary searches through the building have not turned up anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
Firefighters are now working to secure the loose scaffolding, which remains hanging precariously from the 11th floor.
Additional fire resources are being dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters are working to search the building for anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
The second worker has been rescued from the scaffolding.
Firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, but report there are currently no elevated gas levels.
The fire on the roof is under control. One injured patient has also been removed from the roof.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 110 W Fayette St.
Firefighters are continuing to work to rescue the second window washer from the scaffolding.
One of the workers has been rescued from the scaffolding, and is reported to be uninjured.
Firefighters report the majority of the fire is under control.
Firefighters are working to control the fire on the upper floors, while also working to rescue the window washers trapped on scaffolding from the 11th floor.
The building is owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
A fire is currently spreading to the roof.
One person is injured on the roof of the building. Firefighters are continuing to search for other possible injured people.
Smoldering debris is currently on fire.
Three injured people are being escorted out of the building.
Firefighters report a fire inside the building.
A building inspector has been requested to the scene.
A construction crew is being evacuated from the area.
The fire department is reporting an explosion occurred on one of the top floors of the building.
Medics are en route.
Citizen user Fernesskinner shows window washing scaffolding hanging to one side, with firefighters extending a ladder to the building.
Firefighters on the scene are requesting medic assistance for an injured person.
Additional firefighter units are en route.
Firefighters on the scene report no signs of a fire. They advise window washers fell from scaffolding.
Police on the scene report they are blocking traffic on Fayette Street.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a fire in an apartment.
Incident reported at N Liberty St & W Fayette St.
Firefighters advise the scaffolding flooring is unstable and could "fall at any moment."
Personnel from the respective utility companies will be shutting down electricity and gas to the building, according to firefighters.
Firefighters report that the building has been searched and they have not found any additional victims.
Firefighters advise that a crane and structural engineer will be coming to the scene to evaluate the building.
Firefighters report 20 people were injured, 10 of whom will be transported to the hospital while the other 10 are triaged on scene.
Firefighters report heavy structural damage on the 16th floor of the building, including a compromised wall.
Primary and secondary searches through the building have not turned up anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
Firefighters are now working to secure the loose scaffolding, which remains hanging precariously from the 11th floor.
Additional fire resources are being dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters are working to search the building for anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
The second worker has been rescued from the scaffolding.
Firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, but report there are currently no elevated gas levels.
The fire on the roof is under control. One injured patient has also been removed from the roof.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 110 W Fayette St.
Firefighters are continuing to work to rescue the second window washer from the scaffolding.
One of the workers has been rescued from the scaffolding, and is reported to be uninjured.
Firefighters report the majority of the fire is under control.
Firefighters are working to control the fire on the upper floors, while also working to rescue the window washers trapped on scaffolding from the 11th floor.
The building is owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
A fire is currently spreading to the roof.
One person is injured on the roof of the building. Firefighters are continuing to search for other possible injured people.
Smoldering debris is currently on fire.
Three injured people are being escorted out of the building.
Firefighters report a fire inside the building.
A building inspector has been requested to the scene.
A construction crew is being evacuated from the area.
The fire department is reporting an explosion occurred on one of the top floors of the building.
Medics are en route.
Citizen user Fernesskinner shows window washing scaffolding hanging to one side, with firefighters extending a ladder to the building.
Firefighters on the scene are requesting medic assistance for an injured person.
Additional firefighter units are en route.
Firefighters on the scene report no signs of a fire. They advise window washers fell from scaffolding.
Police on the scene report they are blocking traffic on Fayette Street.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a fire in an apartment.
Incident reported at N Liberty St & W Fayette St.
Firefighters advise the scaffolding flooring is unstable and could "fall at any moment."
Personnel from the respective utility companies will be shutting down electricity and gas to the building, according to firefighters.
Firefighters report that the building has been searched and they have not found any additional victims.
Firefighters advise that a crane and structural engineer will be coming to the scene to evaluate the building.
Firefighters report 20 people were injured, 10 of whom will be transported to the hospital while the other 10 are triaged on scene.
Firefighters report heavy structural damage on the 16th floor of the building, including a compromised wall.
Primary and secondary searches through the building have not turned up anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
Firefighters are now working to secure the loose scaffolding, which remains hanging precariously from the 11th floor.
Additional fire resources are being dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters are working to search the building for anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
The second worker has been rescued from the scaffolding.
Firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, but report there are currently no elevated gas levels.
The fire on the roof is under control. One injured patient has also been removed from the roof.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 110 W Fayette St.
Firefighters are continuing to work to rescue the second window washer from the scaffolding.
One of the workers has been rescued from the scaffolding, and is reported to be uninjured.
Firefighters report the majority of the fire is under control.
Firefighters are working to control the fire on the upper floors, while also working to rescue the window washers trapped on scaffolding from the 11th floor.
The building is owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
A fire is currently spreading to the roof.
One person is injured on the roof of the building. Firefighters are continuing to search for other possible injured people.
Smoldering debris is currently on fire.
Three injured people are being escorted out of the building.
Firefighters report a fire inside the building.
A building inspector has been requested to the scene.
A construction crew is being evacuated from the area.
The fire department is reporting an explosion occurred on one of the top floors of the building.
Medics are en route.
Citizen user Fernesskinner shows window washing scaffolding hanging to one side, with firefighters extending a ladder to the building.
Firefighters on the scene are requesting medic assistance for an injured person.
Additional firefighter units are en route.
Firefighters on the scene report no signs of a fire. They advise window washers fell from scaffolding.
Police on the scene report they are blocking traffic on Fayette Street.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a fire in an apartment.
Incident reported at N Liberty St & W Fayette St.
Firefighters advise the scaffolding flooring is unstable and could "fall at any moment."
Personnel from the respective utility companies will be shutting down electricity and gas to the building, according to firefighters.
Firefighters report that the building has been searched and they have not found any additional victims.
Firefighters advise that a crane and structural engineer will be coming to the scene to evaluate the building.
Firefighters report 20 people were injured, 10 of whom will be transported to the hospital while the other 10 are triaged on scene.
Firefighters report heavy structural damage on the 16th floor of the building, including a compromised wall.
Primary and secondary searches through the building have not turned up anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
Firefighters are now working to secure the loose scaffolding, which remains hanging precariously from the 11th floor.
Additional fire resources are being dispatched to the scene.
Firefighters are working to search the building for anyone else trapped or injured by the fire.
The second worker has been rescued from the scaffolding.
Firefighters are still working to determine the cause of the fire and explosion, but report there are currently no elevated gas levels.
The fire on the roof is under control. One injured patient has also been removed from the roof.
The address reported for this incident has changed to 110 W Fayette St.
Firefighters are continuing to work to rescue the second window washer from the scaffolding.
One of the workers has been rescued from the scaffolding, and is reported to be uninjured.
Firefighters report the majority of the fire is under control.
Firefighters are working to control the fire on the upper floors, while also working to rescue the window washers trapped on scaffolding from the 11th floor.
The building is owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric.
A fire is currently spreading to the roof.
One person is injured on the roof of the building. Firefighters are continuing to search for other possible injured people.
Smoldering debris is currently on fire.
Three injured people are being escorted out of the building.
Firefighters report a fire inside the building.
A building inspector has been requested to the scene.
A construction crew is being evacuated from the area.
The fire department is reporting an explosion occurred on one of the top floors of the building.
Medics are en route.
Citizen user Fernesskinner shows window washing scaffolding hanging to one side, with firefighters extending a ladder to the building.
Firefighters on the scene are requesting medic assistance for an injured person.
Additional firefighter units are en route.
Firefighters on the scene report no signs of a fire. They advise window washers fell from scaffolding.
Police on the scene report they are blocking traffic on Fayette Street.
Firefighters are responding to a report of a fire in an apartment.
Incident reported at N Liberty St & W Fayette St.
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Download CitizenComments30
Dear God please take care of all involved 🙏🙏
Whew! Thank You BCFD!!!
@8740 what was the whole assignment ?
Thank you for keeping the camera up and getting this footage!
Gas explosion at the BGE building🤔 thats ironic as fuck.
@deaofly that’s what I said. Lol
Dear God please take care of all involved 🙏🙏
Whew! Thank You BCFD!!!
@8740 what was the whole assignment ?
Thank you for keeping the camera up and getting this footage!
Gas explosion at the BGE building🤔 thats ironic as fuck.
@deaofly that’s what I said. Lol
Dear God please take care of all involved 🙏🙏
Whew! Thank You BCFD!!!
@8740 what was the whole assignment ?
Thank you for keeping the camera up and getting this footage!
Gas explosion at the BGE building🤔 thats ironic as fuck.
@deaofly that’s what I said. Lol
Dear God please take care of all involved 🙏🙏
Whew! Thank You BCFD!!!
@8740 what was the whole assignment ?
Thank you for keeping the camera up and getting this footage!
Gas explosion at the BGE building🤔 thats ironic as fuck.
@deaofly that’s what I said. Lol
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Dear God please take care of all involved 🙏🙏
Whew! Thank You BCFD!!!
@8740 what was the whole assignment ?
Thank you for keeping the camera up and getting this footage!
Gas explosion at the BGE building🤔 thats ironic as fuck.
@deaofly that’s what I said. Lol