Clothes Dryer Blamed for Maryland House Explosion

Authorities say an improperly installed clothes dryer caused an explosion that destroyed a Rockville area home and seriously injured two people.

Montgomery County fire officials blamed the early Wednesday morning blast on the male occupant’s attempt to replace a gas-powered dryer with an electric model. Officials say something the man did allow gas to seep into the home, and when the gas hit a spark the home exploded.

Authorities say the man and a woman were taken to hospital with serious injuries.

Wednesday’s explosion is the second in the Washington area in recent days. On Monday, a Dumfries home was leveled by a similar blast which Prince William County officials preliminarily blamed on a gas leak. The exact cause of that explosion is still under investigation.