Natural Gas Home Explosion Lawsuit Filed Against Baltimore Gas Co.

The parents of an 8-year-old boy killed in a natural gas home explosion are pursuing a wrongful death lawsuit against Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), alleging that the power company failed to properly maintain gas lines.  

The complaint was filed last week in Baltimore City Circuit Court, on behalf of the parents of Troy Douglas, Jr., who was killed in February when a Baltimore row home exploded.

The natural gas explosion occurred as Douglas was walking home from school, causing him to be crushed by an avalanche of bricks blown out onto the street by the blast, which also sparked a major fire.

According to allegations raised by Troy Douglas Sr. and Shanika Brown, the explosion was caused by old pipes that BGE failed to properly maintain. The family claims that the cold February weather allowed the gas to pool up in the basement of a home on North Lakewood Avenue, until it hit an ignition source and exploded, killing the child as he was on his way home from Paca Elementary School in Baltimore City, Maryland.

The Baltimore Fire Department, which investigated the blast, determined that the blast was caused by a gas leak in the row home’s basement, likely ignited by the furnace. However, the fire department did not identify the cause of the leak.

Witnesses and neighbors reported smelling gas before the explosion.

Another child outside the home was seriously injured in the explosion, as were two adults inside.

Douglas’s parents allege that the deadly home explosion could have been avoided, and seek damages in excess of $75,000.00. While BGE officials have offered condolences to the family, the gas and power company has refused to discuss the lawsuit publicly, according to a report by the Baltimore Sun.