Multiple people are trapped after fire breaks out in Maryland apartment building

At least twelve people - including four children - were injured in a massive explosion that tore through a Maryland apartment complex with some of its residents still trapped inside in what is being called a 'mass casualty situation.'

The two-alarm fire ripped through a structure at 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard in Gaithersburg, Maryland around 8:40am Wednesday morning.

The catastrophic explosion demolished a portion of the residential building, Montgomery County Fire & Rescue spokesperson Pete Piringer said.

Ten people were taken to area hospitals with two of the injured transported to a trauma center. Officials said the children sustained 'mild to moderate' injuries, and two other people were treated at the scene and declined to be taken to a hospital. No fatalities were reported, Fox5 DC reported.

Two people in the area said the explosion was so powerful that their bodies were 'physically shaken' by the blast, NBC4 Washington reported. 

A man who experienced the horror firsthand said he 'woke up to an explosion out front' and discovered that a steel door had flown right into his living room, the news outlet reported.

Montgomery County Fire Chief Scott Goldstein said 'the building has sustained a significant explosion that resulted in a collapse,'  WBAL-TV reported. 

More than 100 firefighters and rescue personnel responded to the fiery blast.

The cause of the fire is being investigated, but, an initial search had found evidence of a 'gas-fed fire in the basement,' the fire chief said, The Washington Post reported.  

Crews from Washington Gas were working to shut off the gas supply to the buildings so firefighters could gain access to the nine damaged units, the news outlet reported.

The fire chief said residents in the building had told him a gas leak had been repaired at the building just last week.

The two-alarm fire in Gaithersburg, Maryland ripped through a structure at 800 block of Quince Orchard Boulevard near Rabbit Road Wednesday around 8:40am, fire officials said 

Montgomery County Fire & Rescue arrive at the catastrophic scene. Ten people were taken to area hospitals with two of the injured transported to a trauma center. The children sustained 'mild to moderate' injuries, and two other people were treated at the scene and declined to be taken to a hospital, officials said, WBAL-TV reported

A graphic image of the apartment building completely engulfed in thick heavy smoke 

By 8:50am, the fire went to a second alarm and by 10am the bulk of the fire was contained as firefighters continued to search for any other people who may have been trapped inside the burning building, Piringer said. 

Until fire crews arrived on the scene, maintenance workers from the building used a painter's ladder to rescue a resident from a balcony, the fire chief said during the Wednesday morning press conference. 

He said building number 826 and 828  -that had a total of 24 units - suffered the most significant damage from the blast, Fox5 DC reported.

The residents who occupied those apartments were now displaced and were getting assistance from the Red Cross who were on the scene.

Goldstein said it was still unclear at this time how many residents may be unaccounted for because some buildings, he said, were still too unstable and dangerous for firefighters to access.   

'The smell of gas this morning had been reported to our investigators,' Goldstein said during the presser. He said 911 personnel had not received a report before the explosion about the odor of gas.  

However, it was not yet known whether anyone might have contacted Washington Gas, any other agencies or building management, the news outlet reported.

'Anyone who smells gas at any time should immediately call 911, the fire chief said.

Officials from Washington Gas issued a statement late Wednesday morning stating that they were 'aware of the incident this morning in Montgomery County, Maryland, Fox5 reported.

'Our personnel are responding to assist the fire department on the scene. As always, the safety of our customers and community is our top priority,' the statement read. 

'We are supporting the active response to the incident and do not have further details to share at this time.'

Many posted the horrifying scene on Twitter that showed ghastly thick dark smoke billowing from the building from miles away.

A man who works nearby and felt the blast said 'it felt like we were bombed,' NBC Washington reported. Concerned about those inside, he said, 'his heart goes out to everyone.' 

Drone footage and graphic video and images show the the terrifying scene showing the red-fiery blaze rip through the three-story building. Crater-size chunks of bricks and cinderblocks were seen piled among mounds of debris and rubble covering the grass outside the building.

Nearby roads were closed and firefighters evacuated neighboring buildings including, apartments, townhomes and commercial space, after the building collapse, a report said.  

Brown Station Elementary School located at 851 Quince Orchard Blvd, Gaithersburg near where the explosion occurred went into lockdown. 

The school spokesperson said students and staff were sheltering-in-place and classroom instruction would resume, but later announced that there would be an early dismissal, and all afternoon programs would be cancelled, the news outlet reported.

Firefighters work to extinguish the blaze at the Maryland apartment complex. Fire crews conducted a secondary search looking for residents that may have still been trapped inside the three-story building

Drone footage captures the smoke rising from the residential building. The cause of the fire was being investigated. Montgomery County Fire Chief said residents in the building told him a gas leak had been repaired at the building just last week

More than 100 firefighters and rescue personnel responded to the Wednesday morning blast. Drone footage captures the harrowing scene 

 Two of the apartment complex's six-unit buildings were affected by the explosion

Photos show the roof ripped off the building, burned out windows, a gaping hole and mounds of debris, bricks and rubble on the ground 

Firefighters inspect the site of the building collapse decimated by the explosion 

A preliminary report indicates the fire was sparked by a gas leak, according to fire officials

More than 100 firefighters and rescue personnel responded to the two-alarm fire. Rockville Volunteer Fire Department (pictured) was one of the fire crews on site to assist 

A civilian captured the Wednesday morning blaze from a nearby McDonald's parking lot  

Parents were asked to pick up their children at the Robertson Youth Center in Gaithersburg, a report said.

Firefighters from neighboring areas including, the Rockville Volunteer Fire Department, rushed to the harrowing scene to assist. 

Montgomery County Fire Chief said the Red Cross was on hand helping those residents displaced.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued a tweet updating the public that 'the State Fire Marshal and the Maryland State Police Rockville Barrack have offered assistance with the response to this explosion.'