Smeggie Posted February 17 Member ID: 24118 Group: + COD4 Moderator Followers: 25 Topic Count: 54 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1078 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 2015 Achievement Points: 10017 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 02/19/16 Status: Offline Last Seen: 53 minutes ago Birthday: 01/23/1962 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 (edited) Some of you have probably seen the reports of the tragedy that not only happened in my neighborhood (5 houses down!) but also struck my firefighter family last night. Many of you may (or may not) know that I have been volunteering at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company for the past 15 years. Last night my wife and I were finishing our dinner when I noticed a dispatch on my cell phone for an outside gas leak just up the street from my house. These are generally routine calls, however, last night was anything but normal. Our crews arrived on scene to find an underground 500 gallon propane tank leaking. As they normally do, they request a hazardous materials response to assist with these types of calls. Within seconds the home literally exploded. Our house shook like a plane crashed on it. I bolted out front and saw the huge plume of smoke and a fireball that was taller than the trees. I immediately knew what happened. As a company photographer I grabbed my boots and my camera and bolted. I was there in less than 3 minutes after the blast. It was literally like a war zone. We lost a brother last night. And 7 others from my fire company were severely injured. A few were released this morning, but others remain in the hospital. Please say a prayer for them all..... I want to thank those of you that reached out to me this morning. You have no idea how much that means to me. My wife and I, and our house are fine. We are devastated at the loss of our beloved friend firefighter Trevor Brown. And we are anxious to get the rest of our firefighters out of the hospital. Please keep them all in your prayers.... Here is a local news story about the incident: https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2024/02/possible-house-explosion-rocks-loudoun-co-2/ Edited February 17 by SGTSmeg YACCster, Cooper, Hoth and 27 others 29 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Crack Posted February 17 Member ID: 3139 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 15 Topic Count: 17 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 2059 Content Per Day: 0.46 Reputation: 1952 Achievement Points: 16864 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 18 Joined: 01/17/12 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 21 Birthday: 04/20/1984 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 im sorry to hear this brother! rip to Trevor Brown and a speedy recovery for the rest of ur fire fighting family! Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
rexbowan Posted February 17 Member ID: 27522 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 13 Topic Count: 7 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 1914 Content Per Day: 1.00 Reputation: 1564 Achievement Points: 13391 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 01/25/19 Status: Offline Last Seen: Wednesday at 04:21 PM Birthday: 07/22/1951 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 So sorry for your loss and glad you and your wife are ok! Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
WldPenguin Posted February 17 Member ID: 2995 Group: ++++ Senior Admin Followers: 181 Topic Count: 690 Topics Per Day: 0.15 Content Count: 4437 Content Per Day: 0.98 Reputation: 6771 Achievement Points: 48563 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 68 Joined: 11/17/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: 57 minutes ago Birthday: 02/13/1966 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 So sorry for your loss, Smeg Prayers for you and for Trevor's family I think sometimes we take for granted the magnitude of what first ressponders do to ensure the safety of others. May he rest in peace. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
BUDMAN Posted February 17 Member ID: 800 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 152 Topic Count: 135 Topics Per Day: 0.03 Content Count: 6945 Content Per Day: 1.32 Reputation: 4486 Achievement Points: 58220 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 6 Joined: 11/27/09 Status: Online Last Seen: 1 minute ago Birthday: 05/29/1957 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 Tragic news for sure, sorry for your loss. Positive thoughts your way... Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Snap Posted February 17 Member ID: 27916 Group: ++ Insurgency Admin Followers: 4 Topic Count: 10 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 398 Content Per Day: 0.23 Reputation: 342 Achievement Points: 2543 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 08/19/19 Status: Offline Last Seen: 21 hours ago Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 Shocking incident. Never seen anything like it. Peace be with you and your brothers on the team. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
blackwidow Posted February 17 Member ID: 31 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 48 Topic Count: 28 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 372 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 256 Achievement Points: 2783 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 09/01/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Thursday at 08:52 PM Birthday: 12/25/1981 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 Sending prayers for Trevor's family, and friends. May he rest in peace Thank you and your fellow first responders for all they do, day in and day out. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
TBB Posted February 17 Member ID: 989 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 25 Topic Count: 265 Topics Per Day: 0.05 Content Count: 18136 Content Per Day: 3.47 Reputation: 20152 Achievement Points: 132908 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 263 Joined: 01/07/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: 11 hours ago Birthday: 01/27/1946 Device: Windows Share Posted February 17 Sorry to hear that -at least you and your wife are ok - thoughts/prayers out to those less fortunate. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
ToySoldier Posted February 17 Member ID: 22360 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 11 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 87 Content Per Day: 0.03 Reputation: 60 Achievement Points: 646 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 01/21/15 Status: Offline Last Seen: Thursday at 01:28 AM Birthday: 12/01/1984 Device: Android Share Posted February 17 Rip to Trevor and my condolences to his family,I pray for speedy recovery for everyone hurt..for me this hits home so sorry to hear this Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
YACCster Posted February 17 Member ID: 20683 Group: ++ COD4 Admin Followers: 138 Topic Count: 309 Topics Per Day: 0.08 Content Count: 3349 Content Per Day: 0.88 Reputation: 4087 Achievement Points: 45228 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 22 Joined: 12/12/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: 12 hours ago Device: iPhone Share Posted February 17 So sorry for your loss buddy. We heard and felt it all the way over here. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
ShadyBrady Posted February 18 Member ID: 28695 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 2 Topic Count: 12 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 241 Content Per Day: 0.21 Reputation: 360 Achievement Points: 3527 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 02/07/21 Status: Offline Last Seen: April 18 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 Holy shit, Smeg! That's so tragic. Glad to hear you guys are okay. Thoughts to the families of those injured and lost.. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
lTplkey336 Posted February 18 Member ID: 27768 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 10 Topic Count: 4 Topics Per Day: 0.00 Content Count: 938 Content Per Day: 0.52 Reputation: 1137 Achievement Points: 7764 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 05/18/19 Status: Offline Last Seen: 11 hours ago Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 My son is a fireman, my prayers are with you God bless. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Shadow Posted February 18 Member ID: 7439 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 7 Topic Count: 28 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 279 Content Per Day: 0.07 Reputation: 374 Achievement Points: 2548 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 1 Joined: 04/22/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: 1 hour ago Birthday: 03/21/1982 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 Holy shit! my thoughts are with your community. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Majbasil Posted February 18 Member ID: 6247 Group: ** Registered Users Followers: 22 Topic Count: 24 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 651 Content Per Day: 0.16 Reputation: 834 Achievement Points: 5477 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 03/23/13 Status: Offline Last Seen: Thursday at 02:53 PM Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 (edited) As I lived in Ashburn for years, I know the area extremely well. Been following this (as well as the plane landing on Ashburn (Loudoun County) Parkway last month) and it is so so so very tragic this happened! OMG! Not sure if folks realize that Loudoun County, VA has an all VOLUNTEER Fire Dept. These are heros all of them. That one of yours died, and so many others were burned and wounded by debris is heartbreaking. I am so sorry for you, for Sterling, for all the firemen/women of Loudoun County, apparently even a Fairfax fireman was hurt (Sterling is not far from the Fairfax County border.) Youtube is the best way to get info about this, here are some links --> Edited February 18 by Majbasil Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeednFeed Posted February 18 Member ID: 433 Group: ++ COD4 Admin Followers: 39 Topic Count: 345 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 2333 Content Per Day: 0.44 Reputation: 3799 Achievement Points: 24047 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 35 Joined: 09/17/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: 4 hours ago Birthday: 05/28/1957 Device: iPhone Share Posted February 18 @SGTSmeg Omg Just reading this now. So sorry to hear this sad news. Every day our essential service providers and our first responders are out there dedicating themselves for our benefit. Too often we the general public go through our daily lives without a worry in the world we sometimes take our safety for granted.. It is events like these where we see, understand, and appreciate the true value of those who have the calling to serve in harms way. My sincere condolences to all those affected by this tragedy and loss. Wayne Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
BlackRose Posted February 18 Member ID: 2208 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 110 Topic Count: 305 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 3618 Content Per Day: 0.75 Reputation: 3943 Achievement Points: 37729 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 54 Joined: 02/09/11 Status: Offline Last Seen: Thursday at 06:20 PM Birthday: 06/09/1963 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 Wow thats horrible. looks like house next door had minimal damage,,that could have taken out a few houses. Sorry for your loss but glad your safe! Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
KaptCrunch Posted February 18 Member ID: 389 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 45 Topic Count: 295 Topics Per Day: 0.06 Content Count: 4464 Content Per Day: 0.84 Reputation: 3627 Achievement Points: 36479 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 39 Joined: 09/14/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: 1 hour ago Birthday: 01/01/1970 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 22 hours ago, Crack said: im sorry to hear this brother! rip to Trevor Brown and a speedy recovery for the rest of ur fire fighting family! Echo that and the rest of nieboroughood of the tragity Crack and Smeggie 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
PHUCKITMAN Posted February 18 Member ID: 23 Group: ++ COD2 Admin Followers: 32 Topic Count: 192 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 1830 Content Per Day: 0.34 Reputation: 1556 Achievement Points: 16063 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 8 Joined: 09/01/09 Status: Offline Last Seen: Wednesday at 02:07 AM Birthday: 08/06/1960 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 @SGTSmeg Our Prayers go out to your family including your firefighting brothers and sisters. Seems like these types of things are making the news more often as infrastructure is falling apart all over the country. I hope those guys all make a full recovery and can return to their loved ones. I am so grateful knowing our local fire dept has a station just 10 blocks from our house. They were here in under 5 mins when I had my heart attack almost 1 year ago and got me to the ER within the GOLDEN HOUR. True hero's all of you that put on a helmet and coat and grab a ax Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Smeggie Posted February 18 Member ID: 24118 Group: + COD4 Moderator Followers: 25 Topic Count: 54 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1078 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 2015 Achievement Points: 10017 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 02/19/16 Status: Offline Last Seen: 53 minutes ago Birthday: 01/23/1962 Device: Windows Author Share Posted February 18 1 hour ago, BlackRose said: Wow thats horrible. looks like house next door had minimal damage,,that could have taken out a few houses. Sorry for your loss but glad your safe! Most of the blast went out towards the Alpha side (front) of the house and to the Delta side (right side) but the debris field was 100 yards in pretty much every direction. The house to the right is uninhabitable and the homeowners are displaced. The house directly across the street suffered significant damage and it blew the back doors out of that house. Those folks are able to stay in their house. We had one fire engine positioned three houses to the right at a fire hydrant. A 2x4 blasted through several trees taking down very large branches with it. The 2x4 hit the fire engine and took out the officer side windshield and ripped the large mirror on that side of the engine. Our tower truck was parked in the street just to the Bravo side (left side) of the house and a large section of the roof landed that truck with enough force it dislodged the ladder from it's parked position and significantly dented the side of it. Several of the houses closest to the blast have been condemned until contractors are able to get in and shore them up. Even though the siding may look okay on the outside they have significant structural damage to them. Vinyl siding flexes. drywall and 2x4's not so much Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
EastCoast50 Posted February 18 Member ID: 25026 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 18 Topic Count: 109 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 530 Content Per Day: 0.19 Reputation: 1028 Achievement Points: 7124 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 9 Joined: 09/13/16 Status: Offline Last Seen: 22 hours ago Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 On 2/17/2024 at 12:44 PM, SGTSmeg said: Some of you have probably seen the reports of the tragedy that not only happened in my neighborhood (5 houses down!) but also struck my firefighter family last night. Many of you may (or may not) know that I have been volunteering at the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company for the past 15 years. Last night my wife and I were finishing our dinner when I noticed a dispatch on my cell phone for an outside gas leak just up the street from my house. These are generally routine calls, however, last night was anything but normal. Our crews arrived on scene to find an underground 500 gallon propane tank leaking. As they normally do, they request a hazardous materials response to assist with these types of calls. Within seconds the home literally exploded. Our house shook like a plane crashed on it. I bolted out front and saw the huge plume of smoke and a fireball that was taller than the trees. I immediately knew what happened. As a company photographer I grabbed my boots and my camera and bolted. I was there in less than 3 minutes after the blast. It was literally like a war zone. We lost a brother last night. And 7 others from my fire company were severely injured. A few were released this morning, but others remain in the hospital. Please say a prayer for them all..... I want to thank those of you that reached out to me this morning. You have no idea how much that means to me. My wife and I, and our house are fine. We are devastated at the loss of our beloved friend firefighter Trevor Brown. And we are anxious to get the rest of our firefighters out of the hospital. Please keep them all in your prayers.... Here is a local news story about the incident: https://wtop.com/loudoun-county/2024/02/possible-house-explosion-rocks-loudoun-co-2/ Condolences to you and your department on your loss. As a former 15 year fire-rescue/EMS volunteer I can understand the difficult time his family -- and your department -- is in now. As the incident was happening, I texted a friend who is a Loudoun County firefighter just to make sure he and his father (also Loudoun County FD) were ok. He was there and said the scene was utter chaos. Be MORE than safe out there. - Lev Roxy! and Smeggie 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Roxy! Posted February 18 Member ID: 1812 Group: +++ COD4 Head Admin Followers: 187 Topic Count: 175 Topics Per Day: 0.04 Content Count: 2304 Content Per Day: 0.46 Reputation: 2282 Achievement Points: 21295 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 4 Joined: 09/20/10 Status: Offline Last Seen: 14 hours ago Birthday: 03/18/1977 Device: Windows Share Posted February 18 Sorry to hear this Smeg, my prayers are on the way. Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Smeggie Posted February 19 Member ID: 24118 Group: + COD4 Moderator Followers: 25 Topic Count: 54 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1078 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 2015 Achievement Points: 10017 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 02/19/16 Status: Offline Last Seen: 53 minutes ago Birthday: 01/23/1962 Device: Windows Author Share Posted February 19 3 hours ago, EastCoast50 said: Condolences to you and your department on your loss. As a former 15 year fire-rescue/EMS volunteer I can understand the difficult time his family -- and your department -- is in now. As the incident was happening, I texted a friend who is a Loudoun County firefighter just to make sure he and his father (also Loudoun County FD) were ok. He was there and said the scene was utter chaos. Be MORE than safe out there. - Lev Thanks Lev, appreciate this. I wonder if I know your friends. Know what station they are assigned to? Perhaps you can share a name here or privately. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
major-mark63 Posted February 19 Member ID: 23233 Group: *** Clan Members Followers: 21 Topic Count: 43 Topics Per Day: 0.01 Content Count: 2425 Content Per Day: 0.77 Reputation: 1903 Achievement Points: 19143 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 7 Joined: 09/10/15 Status: Offline Last Seen: Yesterday at 12:21 PM Birthday: 08/11/1963 Device: Windows Share Posted February 19 i didint know that propane reservoirs could be underground, in Canada never saw that only lines could be buried at 18-24 inches deep. you bet i would explode like a bomb!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
Smeggie Posted February 19 Member ID: 24118 Group: + COD4 Moderator Followers: 25 Topic Count: 54 Topics Per Day: 0.02 Content Count: 1078 Content Per Day: 0.36 Reputation: 2015 Achievement Points: 10017 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 11 Joined: 02/19/16 Status: Offline Last Seen: 53 minutes ago Birthday: 01/23/1962 Device: Windows Author Share Posted February 19 2 hours ago, major-mark63 said: i didint know that propane reservoirs could be underground, in Canada never saw that only lines could be buried at 18-24 inches deep. you bet i would explode like a bomb!!! Burying propane tanks in Virginia is common practice. Most people don't, but there are some that do. Many people in the area rent their propane tanks, thus they are usually installed outside. The propane tank did not actually explode. Propane is liquid and is denser than air so it will collect in the lowest point in the house, which makes a more dangerous explosion risk. Propane had leaked into the basement of the house. The house blew up, not the tank. There are probably 30+ Fire Marshal's, investigators and the ATF onsite as we speak, investigating. Who knows if they will be able to figure out what caused the ignition. major-mark63 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options... Awards
JinB Posted February 20 Member ID: 27407 Group: ** Registered Users Followers: 4 Topic Count: 0 Topics Per Day: 0 Content Count: 6 Content Per Day: 0.00 Reputation: 4 Achievement Points: 42 Solved Content: 0 Days Won: 0 Joined: 12/03/18 Status: Offline Last Seen: 25 minutes ago Device: Windows Share Posted February 20 Sorry to hear this Smeg! Prayers for you and Trevor's family including your firefighting brothers and sisters Smeggie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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