Gas explosion injures one at apartments near Mercedes-Benz Stadium

ATLANTA - Atlanta firefighters say a gas explosion ripped through a vacant three-story building at the Northside Plaza apartment homes on Tuesday night, injuring one person and forcing dozens of nearby residents from their homes. 

The complex sits across Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, just south of Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

What we know:

Battalion Chief Michael Roman said the blast came in as a 911 call reporting an explosion and fire. Crews arrived to find the C building heavily damaged and confirmed it was a gas explosion inside a structure that was vacant and under renovation.

"We quick quickly discovered a three-story apartment building that was vacant under renovation had a gas explosion," Roman said. "Cause of explosion is under investigation until we know the actual cause."

One man was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital by Grady EMS. Roman said he was stable when last updated. Firefighters searched the building and did not find anyone else inside.

"He is at Grady. Last I heard he is stable, but he is being treated at Grady right now," Roman said.

About 40 residents who live in nearby units were displaced because of structural damage concerns. Roman said Atlanta Fire Rescue is working with the Red Cross, Atlanta police, AGL, Georgia Power and community groups to help families find temporary housing.

"We're lucky in that sense that it was vacant under renovation," Roman said. "We only had the one victim. Just the displaced families are due to structural damage."

Crews also found a sizable debris field outside the damaged building. Roman said its full extent is still being evaluated.

"There is a debris field," he said. "It is sizable."

What they're saying:

Residents say they smelled gas for hours before the blast and reported it to officials. Several families were shaken out of bed and at least one person was seriously injured, according to neighbors who spoke at the scene.

One resident, D’Andrea Moore, said she and her five children were asleep when the explosion hit.

"My daughter woke me up. Basically, my first thing was to grab them and get out," Moore said. She told FOX 5 she is staying with family until the Red Cross can assist. "It was just scary to see people running, to see someone burnt. Just it just was a traumatic experience."

Moore said she saw the injured victim moments after the explosion. "It was pretty bad. He was pretty bad," she said.

Another resident said the blast followed repeated warnings about a strong odor of gas in the area earlier in the day. A woman who identified herself as Royal, a disabled veteran, said she smelled gas during a morning walk near the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive and Northside Drive.

"By my second lap, I called the café, and I said, ‘I don’t know if it is your building or our building, but I am smelling gas,’" she said. Royal said the cafe contacted someone to check, then she called the fire department but did not get an answer. She then called 911.

"She said she was gonna send somebody out and 15 minutes later nobody was here. So we called from the cafe’s phone," Royal said. She added that firefighters arrived shortly after noon, walked the area with a gas detector and told residents they could return inside. "They left and said it was good to go. And now people are hurt. Families are without homes."

Royal said the explosion knocked her backward inside her apartment. "My back got blew off the wall," she said. "I already have major back injuries. I already have herniated disks."

She believes the injuries and damage could have been prevented. "It could’ve saved that man that got hurt," she said.

Fire officials said they could not immediately respond to those claims.

"Where I stand right now I don't have a clarity on that," Roman said said. "We can see if those were reported."

Royal also said the complex has had no on-site management for weeks. "Our management company quit, and we have been here by ourselves," she said.

Dig deeper:

Roman urged residents to call authorities immediately if they ever smell gas, noting that early reporting can prevent emergencies like this one.

"That is why we stress with residents, if you smell gas, make the phone call," he said. "You can avoid this."

What we don't know:

Authorities have not released what triggered the gas explosion or whether a leak was reported earlier in the day. 

Crews have not said when displaced families will be allowed to return home or when the C building will be safe to enter again.

What's next:

Firefighters have checked most of the building and are working to inspect the remaining areas to ensure no one is inside. Damaged sections of the complex remain off limits while investigators and utility crews assess the structure.

"We won't leave the property until we know a hundred percent," Roman said.

Residents in buildings deemed safe have been allowed to return home. Crews are continuing to evaluate the damage to the C building and the surrounding area.

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