Utility crews with Washington Gas are continuing critical repairs after a damaged gas line ignited late Friday night in Prince George’s County, sending towering flames into the air and leaving one worker seriously injured. The incident occurred in the Beltsville area and has raised concerns among residents about gas line safety and service interruptions.
According to officials, the fire erupted shortly after 10 p.m. near the intersection of Powder Mill Road and Cherry Hill Road in Beltsville. Witnesses in the neighborhood described hearing a loud explosion before briefly losing electricity. Several residents reported seeing intense flames lighting up the night sky from their homes.
Emergency responders from Prince George’s County quickly arrived on the scene to contain and extinguish the blaze. Authorities temporarily advised the public to avoid the area as fire crews worked to manage the situation safely. In addition, Maryland State Police assisted with traffic control and public safety measures during the emergency response.
A spokesperson for Washington Gas confirmed that company crews had been repairing a 4-inch natural gas service line that was damaged during excavation work conducted by an unidentified third party. During the repair operation, gas that had already been released was ignited by an unknown source, leading to the explosion and fire. The company stated that one employee sustained serious injuries but is currently in stable condition and is expected to recover, as the injuries are not considered life-threatening.
As a precaution, Washington Gas shut off natural gas service in the surrounding area to safely complete repairs. By Saturday morning, several residents reported disruptions, including loss of gas service and hot water. Water service, however, was not affected. Utility provider Pepco also responded due to downed power lines near the incident site.
Community members expressed relief that no additional serious injuries were reported, while also voicing concerns about recent gas-related incidents in the region. The explosion comes shortly after a major gas-related event in Centreville, where a house explosion in Fairfax County forced dozens of families to evacuate. Although that leak was repaired earlier this week, multiple homes remain impacted, and investigators have indicated that determining the exact cause could take years.
At this time, officials have not announced a specific timeline for completing repairs or fully restoring gas service in Beltsville. Residents remain hopeful that services will resume soon and have extended well wishes to the injured worker for a full and speedy recovery.
