‘You could feel it in your chest’: Neighbors stunned after deadly Albemarle house explosion

ALBEMARLE COUNTY, Va. — Neighbors in the Keswick area of Albemarle County have been left to process the devastation of a deadly home explosion. On Tuesday August 19, officials believe a gas explosion reduced a two-story home to rubble.

It happened around 6 p.m. along Ferndown Lane. First responders said they felt the blast minutes before being flooded with 911 calls. Albemarle County Fire Rescue described the scene as a “debris field for over a block.”

Debris scattered across neighboring homes. (Photo: Deniel Dookan, 8News)

“It appears we’ve got one house flattened on the ground,” Albemarle County Fire Rescue said in radio scanner. “We possibly have two victims, maybe more.”

Authorities say the victims were not the homeowners. Instead, the woman and man were reportedly checking on the home after noticing a gas smell. The woman died at the scene. The man suffered serious burns and was transported to VCU’s burn center in Richmond.

Neighbors told 8News the shockwave could be felt from miles away.

“This was a very, very loud boom," said Patricia Butler, who lives nearby. "You could kind of feel it in your chest."

The explosion damaged at least 12 surrounding homes, shattering windows and scattering debris across lawns. The American Red Cross is assisting displaced residents, and neighbors are also stepping in, offering their homes to support one another.

“There are people in this community that help each other by walking their dogs, checking their home," Butler said. "My heart really goes out to the people who took advantage of that same network and suffered the worst possible nightmare.”

Officials are continuing to investigate but believe a gas fire is to blame.

Authorities are urging homeowners that if they smell gas, they should leave immediately and call 911.