WILMINGTON, N.C. (WNCN) — Three firefighters were hurt Tuesday after a building exploded in a busy part of Wilmington, fire officials said.
According to the Wilmington Fire Department, crews were called out to a building on New Centre Drive near Bob King Drive — which is between two of the city’s main thoroughfares, Market Street and College Road — shortly after 11 a.m. for a gas leak call. Fire officials said the leak was caused by a car crashing into a gas meter.
“We were out here investigating doing a primary search of the building to make sure everyone was out of the building when there was an explosion,” said Rebekah Thurston with the Wilmington Fire Department, adding that only fire personnel were in the building at the time. “Upon the explosion, there were flames showing through the roof, so we evacuated the building.”
The fire department said three firefighters were injured in the explosion and subsequent evacuation and were taken to the hospital for treatment. Two have minor injuries, fire officials said, while the third has severe burns on their hands and arms.
The Wilmington Police Department said about 20 minutes prior to the explosion, officers had responded to a crash in the area.
“WPD responded to the scene here for a vehicle that had turned onto New Centre Drive from Bob King Drive and went off the road behind us here and struck the gas lines feeding the building that ultimately exploded,” Lt. Greg Willett of the Wilmington Police Department said. “When officers arrived the vehicle was gone, so it was a hit-and-run.”
The car involved in the crash as well as the driver were eventually found a short time later, the police department said. The driver suspected in the crash was taken into custody, according to police, and the car was seized.
“There was evidence that would lead one to believe that the driver was impaired,” Willett said, noting that the North Carolina State Highway Patrol was helping “evaluate” the driver. “Ultimately that is what led to this gas explosion.”
The building that exploded was set to be the new home of the Eastern Carolinas Veterinary hospital but had not opened yet, the fire department confirmed.
The gas has been shut off since the explosion, the Wilmington Fire Department said.
Hannah Leyva
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