Day care staff evacuates children moments before explosions caused by gas leak

WASHINGTON (TMX) - A day care in Washington, D.C., was evacuated just moments before a gas leak caused multiple explosions on Thursday.

“We are incredibly grateful for the first responders and day care employees who evacuated buildings and got people nearby, including children, to safety,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.

D.C. Fire and EMS responded to a report of a gas leak on the 1200 block of Marion Barry Avenue in the Anacostia neighborhood at around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Fire Chief John Donnelly said at a press conference.

Crews quickly found the leak, but could not control it, and immediately began evacuating nearby buildings.

A day care in the building with the leak safely evacuated 16 children just moments before the first explosion. Day care staff had already been clearing out the children due to the gas leak before fire crews officially began the evacuation.

All of the children were reunited with their families.

The first explosion knocked out windows in the second floor of the building and started a flash fire, Donnelly said. A secondary explosion at an adjacent convenience store “knocked down the convenience store.”

“I think we’re very lucky today,” Bowser said during the press conference.

Donnelly said just one person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries from debris. Three buildings were damaged.

Donnelly said as the evacuations were underway, firefighters contacted utility Washington Gas for assistance. He said it was believed the leak was caused by a vehicle striking a gas meter, but that it was “still being investigated.”

The fire department was working with the gas company to control the leak.

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