Update on Silver Spring Apartment Explosion and Fire

Tune in to County Cable Montgomery at approximately 1:45  today to see the update on issues relating to the August 10 explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartment complex on Arliss Street in Silver Spring where seven people were killed in the blast and ensuing fire and 39 others were injured. If you aren't able to watch the meeting live, you can get it on demand about 24 hours later.

Among those expected to provide information on the Flower Branch apartment building fire are Earl Stoddard, the director of the County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security; County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein, County Police Chief Thomas Manger; Clarence Snuggs, the County’s director of the Department of Housing and Community Affairs; Uma Ahluwalia, the County’s director of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board, which has taken over the investigation into the cause of the explosion, and Washington Gas also have been invited to attend.
             
Several federal agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the NTSB, investigated the explosion. ATF concluded its field work on August 19, and determined that a natural gas leak in a basement meter room caused the explosion and fire. NTSB then took over the investigation. It is expected to issue a report in nine to 12 months.