Charges filed in Sterling, Va., house explosion that killed volunteer firefighter

LOUDOUN COUNTY, Virginia (7News) – A former Southern States Cooperative employee has been indicted for actions leading to a February home explosion in Loudoun County, Va., that killed a Sterling volunteer firefighter, county officials announced Tuesday.

That employee, Roger Bentley, was indicted by a Loudoun County grand jury on allegations of a mismanaged hazardous materials release that led to a 500-gallon underground propane tank leaking and a subsequent explosion on the block 300 of Silver Ridge Drive in February. 16.

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Bentley was also accused of failing to keep proper records for unauthorized releases of propane, officials said.

The explosion killed Sterling volunteer firefighter Trevor Brown, 45, injured 13 other people and leveled a home while damaging six other nearby structures. Three additional homes were deemed unsafe immediately after the incident, and damage was initially estimated at $2.5 million, according to the Loudoun County Fire Marshal’s Office at the time.

Firefighters were first called to the scene following a gas leak. The explosion occurred after firefighters entered the home, according to a Loudoun County fire official shortly after the incident.

The home’s propane tank was provided by Southern States, a company that offers propane, gasoline and heating oil as well as HVAC equipment and tankless water heaters, according to its website. A Southern States spokesperson said it had made “appropriate personnel changes” following the incident in Sterling, Virginia, and was working on federal and local investigations.

“Based on our own internal investigation into the incident and a thorough review of our safety protocols and training, particularly regarding the handling of propane in accordance with the industry’s energy compliance manual, we have made what we consider to be appropriate personnel changes in the region and are moving forward with a renewed commitment to ensuring that our procedures and training are rigorous and robust, reflecting our otherwise excellent safety record in meeting the needs energy customers for over 84 years in Leesburg, Virginia,” part of the statement reads.

After an initial examination in February, firefighters said “uncontained propane migrated into and around the structure and was ignited by an unknown ignition source.”

Bentley was charged with involuntary manslaughter, unlawful discharge of hazardous materials including liquefied petroleum gas, unlawful failure to maintain required records regarding unauthorized discharge of hazardous materials including liquefied petroleum gas, and failure to illegal to control or mitigate the unauthorized release of hazardous materials, primarily propane.

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