Settlement Reached In Deadly Silver Spring Apartment Explosion

SILVER SPRING, MD — Survivors and families of people killed in the 2016 Flower Branch Apartment complex explosion have reached a settlement with Washington Gas.

A spokesman for Washington Gas confirmed to Patch that a settlement was reached Friday. The company did not disclose how much it paid in the settlement but said "the matter has been resolved to the mutual satisfaction of the parties."

CASA — a Maryland-based Latino and immigrant advocacy group that filed two lawsuits against Washington Gas — also confirmed that both parties had reached a "satisfactory resolution" that will help survivors through a years-long healing process.

"The settlement reached with Washington Gas is a crucial step in helping the survivors move on," said George Escobar, chief of programs and services at CASA.

On Aug. 10, 2016, a natural gas explosion ripped through the Silver Spring apartment complex and killed seven people, including two children. Firefighters raced to the scene around midnight but had trouble communicating with tenants, since most of them spoke Spanish.

Residents suffered broken bones when they jumped from windows, while others suffered burn injuries, according to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Chief Scott Goldstein. Dozens were taken to area hospitals for treatment, including three firefighters who suffered from heat exhaustion.

On behalf of the victims, CASA filed a class-action complaint and death/injury complaint against Washington Gas and Kay Management, the apartment complex landlord. CASA alleged that the natural gas explosion was preventable, especially since residents had already complained about a natural gas smell a few months earlier.

The National Transportation Safety Board spent more than two years investigating the deadly incident. In April 2019, the agency announced it couldn't find the ignition source that sparked the deadly explosion but determined the disaster was probably caused by a disconnected gas regulator. Washington Gas, the company responsible for maintaining the equipment for the apartment complex, has disputed the findings, according to The Associated Press.

"For a long time, (residents) were just having to wait, frustratingly, whether it was through the court process or for a report from the NTSB," Escobar said. "Finally, they are seeing the fruition of a lot of their work and a lot of their struggle."

With the release of these findings, the Maryland Public Service Commission — a governor-appointed group tasked with ensuring safe, reliable and economic public utility and transportation to Marylanders — has ordered Washington Gas to implement recommendations from the NTSB report.

The public service commission also held a hearing with residents Tuesday to learn more about the fatal explosion.

Escobar said the meeting was "a big step."

"We hope in a couple of months we have a decision on what they're going to do moving forward, how they are going to hold the responsible parties accountable, and how to prevent this from happening again," Escobar said.

The commission, Escobar added, will soon collaborate with Maryland state legislators to make sure Washington Gas implements the NTSB's recommendations.

"This winter, we are going to see a lot of answers on how the NTSB report will be implemented and what measures all of these bodies are going to put in place to make sure this doesn't happen again," Escobar said.

Even with this settlement, and Tuesday's hearing, CASA says the fight isn't over.

Now, the organization intends to focus more on preventing future tragedies and holding Washington Gas, Kay Management, and any other relevant parties accountable on a regular basis.

Lizette Olmos, a spokeswoman for CASA, said the organization will "continue to make noise," should residents have questions or concerns that aren't resolved by the gas company or landlord.

Olmos told Patch on Wednesday that CASA will notify elected officials about concerns that residents raise and will continue to follow up with leaders about unresolved safety issues.

SEE ALSO:

• Maryland Apartment Explosion: 7th Body Found; Cause Could Be Known By End of Week
• Vigil To Mark 1-Year Anniversary Of Flower Branch Apartments Explosion
• Judge Slams NTSB For Slow Probe Into Deadly Apartment Explosions
• NTSB Sets Hearing On Cause Of 2016 Deadly Apartment Explosions
• NTSB Blames Faulty Equipment For 2016 Deadly Apartment Explosion