STERLING, Va. – A detailed report released Tuesday sheds light on the devastating February 16, 2024, house explosion in Sterling that killed Firefighter Trevor Brown and injured 13 others, including 10 first responders. 

Sterling house explosion Significant Incident Report

What we know:

The 211-page report, compiled by Frederick County Fire and Rescue Services in Maryland, highlights critical areas for improvement in emergency response while honoring the heroic efforts that day.

The Significant Incident Report, requested by the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System (LC-CFRS), identifies several challenges that contributed to the tragedy, including inadequate risk assessment, delays in communication, resource allocation issues, and difficulties in coordinating a complex and rapidly escalating situation.

“The need for continuous improvement in emergency response protocols, training, and communication strategies is critical to mitigating risks and enhancing safety for responders,” the report states.

Despite the challenges, the report also highlights strengths that contributed to saving lives, including advanced training in firefighter rescue operations, technical rescue expertise, and the swift coordination of behavioral health support for responders.

LC-CFRS Chief Keith Johnson emphasized that the recommendations from the report, which include 51 objectives and more than 80 action items, will guide improvements in training, communication, and risk assessment.

When did the Sterling house explosion happen?

The backstory:

The explosion occurred on Silver Ridge Drive after Loudoun County firefighters responded to a reported gas leak at the residence. 

Investigators later determined an underground propane tank was leaking, prompting firefighters to request a hazardous materials team and evacuate the home’s occupants. Within an hour, the home exploded, leveling the structure, trapping several firefighters, and sending debris flying.

Brown, a dedicated Sterling volunteer firefighter, died in the line of duty. Two firefighters were rescued from the home’s burning basement, and 10 others sustained significant injuries. Two civilians suffered minor injuries.

What’s next:

The explosion has led to criminal charges against Roger Bentley, a 67-year-old technician for Southern States Cooperative. Prosecutors allege Bentley assessed the propane leak and improperly advised residents to “let it seep out and be on their merry way.” 

Bentley faces charges of involuntary manslaughter and other offenses related to the explosion.

Vienna, Virginia-based United Bankshares, the seventh-largest bank by customer deposits in the D.C. region, has completed its acquisition of Atlanta-based Piedmont Bancorp in an all-stock transaction valued at $267 million.

Piedmont branches will now operate under the United Bank name.

It is the 34th acquisition for United Bank, and marks its first entry into Georgia, gaining 16 Piedmont branches in Atlanta and North Georgia.

United Bank now operates more than 240 branches across Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, D.C., West Virginia, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Its Piedmont acquisition boosts total assets to more than $32 billion. United Bank had $95.3 million in net income for its most recently reported quarter.

United Bank’s growth through acquisition plan has included some of D.C.’s most-established institutions, including Bank of Georgetown, Cardinal Bank and Virginia Commerce.

United Bank opened its first branch in Parkersburg, West Virginia, in 1839. United Bank has duel headquarters in Vienna and in Charleston, West Virginia.

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The West Virginia football program has added yet another signal caller to the room with a commitment from Charlotte quarterback Max Brown.

Brown, 6-foot-3, 230-pounds, played six games during his lone season with the 49ers where he completed 43-93 passes for 561 yards with 3 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

The Oklahoma native started his career at Florida where he redshirted during his first year and then completed 19-28 passes for 192 yards in 2023.

Brown tossed for 4,416 passing yards and 68 touchdowns over two seasons at Lincoln Christian. He was named District 3A MVP after throwing for 2,750 yards and 41 touchdowns to go along with 1,343 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns showcasing his dual threat capabilities.

The quarterback entered the transfer portal Dec. 1 and committed to the Mountaineers after visiting campus.

Brown joins a quarterback room that also has added Texas A&M transfer Jaylen Henderson this off-season.

He has two seasons of eligibility remaining in his career.

WVSports.com breaks down the transfer of Brown and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.

The data:

Between his two stops at Florida and Charlotte over the past two seasons, Brown has played a total of 313 snaps. He has only completed 50.4 percent of his 123 attempts during that time with 3 touchdowns and 7 interceptions but has some metrics that certainly raise the eyebrows.

He had a total of 9 big time throws in just 62 completions, which are passes with excellent ball location and timing, generally thrown further down the field and/or into a tighter window.

Brown also has been an effective rusher with 222 yards at the quarterback spot with 106 of that coming off scrambles and 116 in designed run situations.

Still, it’s a small sample size for Brown but there are attributes that make this an interesting addition.

Fitting the program:

West Virginia has five quarterbacks on the roster now with the addition of Brown and three of them will have two years of eligibility left with Nicco Marchiol and Jaylen Henderson in that category. At worst, Brown is another experienced arm that has played at the FBS level with stints at both Florida and Charlotte.

At best, the Mountaineers have a potential option that can challenge for time on the field in what should be an open quarterback competition with a new coaching staff in town. Marchiol is going to be considered the favorite heading into spring, but Brown and Henderson are both going to be competing for time.

The Oklahoma native fared well in his time at Florida and while his numbers at Charlotte weren’t as impressive, he has on the field experience and gives the Mountaineers a more seasoned option there than relying on two freshmen in Scotty Fox and Khalil Wilkins.

Recruiting the position:

Now with five quarterbacks on the roster, it would seem that West Virginia would be done adding there for the time being but there is always the possibility that another could be in the mix depending on how things unfold in the spring. There are three quarterbacks with two years of eligibility remaining on the roster and each of them should be competing in the spring to see where they fit into the picture.