The utility investigated but did not find a gas leak before the fatal explosion at the Maryland home

A technician who responded to a power outage at a Maryland home and a neighbor both reported smelling gas the night before the residence exploded, killing two people, but a leak was not initially found, according to a report released Wednesday by national investigators.

The home in Bel Air, Maryland, exploded on the morning of August 11, killing the homeowner and a contractor. Three people were injured, including a second contractor.

The Baltimore Gas and Electric service technician who responded to the initial power outage the night before reported an outside odor of gas to a dispatcher, according to the National Transportation Safety Board report. A neighbor also reported “smelling a strong odor of gas” about two-tenths of a mile from the home, but the gas company did not find a leak, the report said.

In an interview with NTSB investigators, another worker said he smelled gas outside the house around 6:05 a.m., just before the explosion.

In a statement after the NTSB report was released, Baltimore Gas and Electric said it had recently taken steps “to enhance the safety and reliability of our system, as well as the safety and performance of our dedicated and highly skilled employees and contractors.”

The company said those steps include implementing refresher courses to re-emphasize safety measures and emergency processes on gas and electricity. They also include increased oversight of customer emergency calls to the company and strengthening procedures to ensure employees can maintain the safety of gas and electrical systems.

“BGE is committed to strengthening and improving our safety culture for customers, employees, contractors and the entire service area,” the company said.

Before NTSB investigators arrived, Baltimore Gas and Electric completed a pressure test, the report said. The utility also recovered damaged electrical service lines and the plastic service line with a hole in the bottom. The NTSB’s preliminary report said the operating pressure of the gas system at the time of the explosion was below the maximum allowable limit.

NTSB investigators examined the site, reviewed BGE’s operating procedures, gathered documents, conducted interviews, and recovered physical evidence. Investigators also examined the remaining gas and electrical installations at the home.

“Future investigative activities will focus on BGE’s construction practices, its odor complaint recording and response process, and its pipeline safety management system, as well as other causative factors,” the report said.

Ray Corkran Jr., the 73-year-old homeowner, died in the Sunday morning explosion. Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado, a 35-year BGE employee, also died.

Nearby neighbors reported a variety of damage to their homes from the blast, and some were displaced. More than 60 first responders from various agencies arrived at the scene.

Photo: Crews remove debris after a house exploded in Bel Air, Md., Sunday, Aug. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

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