The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released preliminary findings on the tragic house explosion in Bel Air last month that resulted in two fatalities and injured three others. According to WBAL-TV, the blast happened around 6:48 a.m. on August 11 and damaged nearby properties. The night before, Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) had been called out for an electrical outage and a report of a gas smell, but they didn’t find any leak then.

 A neighbor noticed a strong gas smell before the explosion, and the NTSB confirmed this. Despite BGE checking, they didn’t find a leak. The following day, two electrical contractors came to fix earlier issues but were killed when the explosion happened. The homeowner also died in the blast; families are now grieving and trying to find comfort. According to a WMAR-2 News report, one of the contractors had smelled gas in front of the house just minutes before the fatal incident.

The NTSB found that the gas system in the house was under the maximum pressure limit when the explosion happened. They later discovered a hole in the plastic gas line, but they’re still figuring out how the leak started and caused the explosion. The NTSB will focus on BGE’s construction practices, how they handle odor complaints, and their overall pipeline safety.

Following the devastating explosion, BGE reiterated its commitment to system integrity and continuous improvement: "Independent of any external investigation, BGE remains committed to the integrity of our system. Our processes and procedures are designed to address a range of situations. Nevertheless, we recognize the importance of continuous improvement and vigilance," BGE has since taken proactive steps, including implementing refresher training for their personnel, reinforcing facility procedures, and stepping up the oversight of emergency calls, as reported by WMAR-2 News.