{"id":9272,"date":"2025-08-21T20:57:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T00:57:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/?p=9272"},"modified":"2026-03-31T11:03:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T15:03:03","slug":"wilmington-explosion-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legeros.com\/blog\/wilmington-explosion-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilmington Explosion and Fire – August 19, 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>
\nScreen grabs from Ian Cross footage via WECT<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Last updated: August 29, 2025\u00a0<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n

On Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in Wilmington, NC, an impaired driver struck and damaged a gas meter and high-pressure line beside a commercial building that was being renovated for a veterinary hospital. The vehicle left the scene. The hospital was planning to open next month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some 20 or 30 minutes after fire units arrived at the scene of the active gas leak, the building exploded and injured five firefighters, including one severely. They were inside the building conducting a primary search. They were monitoring the gas levels as they searched and they detected a dangerous concentration just seconds before the explosion.<\/p>\n

All five were injured in the blast and emergency evacuation. One firefighter suffered second- and third-degree burns to their hands and was transferred to the burn center in Chapel Hill.<\/p>\n

Here are narrative notes and more about the incident, drawn from news articles, the press conference, and other sources.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Incident Timeline <\/strong><\/p>\n

Around 11:00 a.m., a vehicle turning onto New Centre Drive left the roadway and struck the side of an office building at 5051 New Centre Drive. It struck the front right corner, where the gas meter and a high-pressure natural gas line were connected to the building. They were about 30 feet from the roadway. The vehicle left the scene.<\/p>\n

Around 11:10 a.m. (?), Wilmington Engine 3 was dispatched to the vehicle versus building, with the single-company response type of Fire Incident. This is a generic call type that expedites dispatch of a unit while additional details are received by the dispatcher and the call coding is completed.<\/p>\n

The location was first-due for Engine 8, but they were on another call. Engine 3 responded, and were operating a reserve engine.<\/p>\n

As details of a reported gas leak were added to the call, Battalion 1\u2014who was listening on the radio\u2014requested that a truck company be added. The dispatcher replied that Truck 8, Squad 3, and Safety 2 had each already added themselves.<\/p>\n

First-Arriving Units<\/strong><\/p>\n

Safety 2 was first-arriving and established command. He reported that there was an active gas leak from a damaged gas line and requested that the gas company be contacted. With the confirmation of an active gas leak, Battalion 1 added himself to the call.<\/p>\n

Engine 3 was directed to stretch a protective line to the gas meter. Truck 8 was directed to block New Centre Drive. Squad 3 was directed to also help block New Centre Drive. And by this time, police had been requested to respond, to also help with traffic control.<\/p>\n

Five firefighters from Truck 8 and Squad 3 entered the building to perform a primary search and evacuate any occupants.[1]<\/p>\n

[1] When the first fire units arrived, they found construction workers at the site. The workers informed them of the “hissing” gas leak, but said nothing about whether or not people were inside the building. There were cars in the parking lot, however.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Battalion 1 arrived around this time and took command. Engine 3 was asked if they had a water supply. Engine 3 answered negative. Command requested an additional engine company, which added New Hanover County Engine 17 to the call. When they arrived, they were directed to lay a dry line to Engine 3.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nClose view of gas line three days after the incident. Legeros photo, see more in this gallery<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Warning of Danger, Then the Explosion<\/strong><\/p>\n

Squad 3 then contacted Command. They had detected 90% concentration inside the building.[2] Before Command could reply, Safety 2 radioed that there was fire through the roof. Then the explosion occurred. The time was around 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n

[2] This corrects prior reports that the mayday was issued prior to the explosion.<\/p>\n

The resulting explosion blew debris straight up and away from the building. Fire also shot horizontally out of the front of the building and across New Centre.<\/p>\n

At the time of the explosion, the five firefighters were on the second floor in hallways, as they were clearing rooms.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
\nScreengrab from Kirk Rogers video from ABC news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Maydays Issued<\/strong><\/p>\n

Squad 3 issued the first mayday. After their transmission ended, Truck 8 issued a second mayday.<\/p>\n

Command then asked dispatch for a full alarm. This \u201cfilled the box\u201d to add the units missing, had the call been originally dispatched as a full alarm assignment. (Which was 3 or 4 engines, 2 trucks, 1 rescue, 2 squads, 1 battalion chief, and safety.)<\/p>\n

Command acknowledged the mayday and asked if any firefighters were trapped. They were not. He asked if they were all together. Yes they were together. He told them that if they couldn\u2019t get out of the building using the stairwell to go to the windows and he would have a ladder brought to the window.<\/p>\n

The five firefighters found a second-floor window on the bravo side of the building. Safety 2 observed them and directed the ground ladder to that location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

About that time Engine 8 arrived and was directed to perform RIT duties, including helping the firefighters evacuate.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Screengrab from Stanley Waldrip video from ABC news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Escaped by Ground Ladder<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ground ladder was placed at the window. The five firefighters rapidly evacuated the building and down the ladder. Two firefighters suffered injuries as they rapidly descended the ladder. Three other firefighters had been injured in the explosion, including one with second- and third-degree burns to his hands.<\/p>\n

By that time an EMS supervisor had arrived at the scene and reported to Battalion 1, who requested two ambulances to the scene.<\/p>\n

Three firefighters were initially transported by EMS. Later, two more were transported. And after the five had been transported, another ambulance stood by at the scene, for the remainder of the incident.<\/p>\n

After the five firefighters were out of the building, the mayday was cleared. After there was a break in the radio traffic, Command requested a second alarm.<\/p>\n

Suppression, Exposures, Hazards<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the explosion, fire suppression efforts directed by command included:<\/p>\n