Bel Air home near deadly gas explosion demolished; 9 homes deemed unsafe

A Bel Air home near the scene of last week’s deadly natural gas explosion has been demolished because of severe damage, and security has been reinstated at the entrance to the neighborhood after break-ins were reported at damaged homes, according to Harford County officials.

Nine homes in the neighborhood — including 2300 Arthurs Woods Drive, where the explosion occurred, and 2302 Arthurs Woods Drive, which was partially destroyed — have been deemed unsafe and uninhabitable by county officials.

Demolition of 2302 Arthurs Woods Drive began Monday after the homeowner’s insurance company and the county agreed it should be razed due to severe structural damage, said Harold Boling, deputy director of the county Department of Inspections, Licenses and Permits.

Owners of the other seven homes deemed unsafe must submit letters of assessment to the county from structural engineers, licensed master electricians and licensed gas fitters before their utilities can be restored.

“The homes do not have utilities [because] we believe there is structural damage that would make the home unsafe,” Boling said. “If we … are satisfied they meet our requirements, we will go back to BGE and have them release the utilities.”

Originally, 12 homes were judged unsafe after the blast, which killed homeowner Raymond C. Corkran Jr. and BGE contractor José Rodriguez-Alvarado . Five of the homes were reinspected and cleared for occupancy, according to Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly. Utilities were restored at every other home in the neighborhood shortly after the blast.

If the assessments discover issues barring the restoration of utilities, the homeowners’ insurance companies will be notified of needed repairs. The firms will then decide to either repair the homes or demolish them. Homeowners’ insurance companies will pay for repairs or demolition, Boling said.

The remains of the structure that exploded will not be cleared until the home’s insurance company has completed its investigation, which Boling said should happen by the end of this week. The site is fenced off with wreckage still scattered throughout the lot. While the insurance investigation continues, a contractor will clear debris behind the home and from a nearby sediment pond.

The National Transportation Safety Board launched an investigation into the explosion days after the incident. The NTSB completed its on-scene work last week but said its broader investigation is ongoing and that a preliminary report will be available within 30 days. However, NTSB officials said the probable cause of the blast will be in the final report, which will be available in 12 to 24 months.

After the blast, private security personnel were posted at the entrance to the neighborhood. They only allowed residents to enter and required all visitors to be escorted by officials working at the scene.

Cassilly said security has been reinstated because of reported break-ins at boarded-up homes and visitors “gawking” at the damage.

Memorial flowers are left along a fence on Arthurs Woods Drive in Bel Air after two people were killed and multiple homes damaged after an explosion at one of the homes last week. (Lloyd Fox/Staff photo)