STERLING, Va. — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has ordered all flags in the commonwealth to be flown at half staff Monday in honor of Sterling Volunteer Firefighter Trevor Brown.
Brown, 45, with the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, died at the scene of a house explosion back in February. He became affiliated with the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System in 2016. He leaves behind a wife and three children.
The governor's order coincides with a celebration of life for Brown at a church in Leesburg.
"In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of Sterling Volunteer Firefighter Trevor Brown, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on February 16, 2024," the order reads. "I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Monday, March 4, 2024, and remain at half-staff until sunset."
Firefighters were called to the home on Silver Ridge Drive shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 17 for reports of the smell of gas outside the home. Upon arrival, they found the underground propane tank with a leak on the side of the property. Crews called for Loudoun County’s Hazardous Materials Response Team, as well as additional units from Sterling, South Riding, and numerous command staff and safety officers. However, a short time later the house exploded while firefighters were inside the home.
As a result of the explosion, 12 people were injured in addition to Brown's death. Of those injured, 10 were first responders and two were civilians. All have varying degrees of injuries.
"We lost a family member, we lost one of our own," said Loudoun County System Chief Keith Johnson. "It doesn't matter if it's career or volunteer, we lost a family member."
The explosion damaged six other homes in the community including the house of Stephan Hanna. His home two doors down had damage to the front porch area and numerous nails lodged in his walls and ceilings.
“I’m glad I’m still here,” Hanna told WUSA9. “I was standing not even two minutes before it went off. I was talking to the firefighter. He said it was a gas tank leaking. I went inside and boom.”
While investigators point to the gas leak, the exact cause of what ignited the explosion has yet to be released. The explosion caused an estimated $2.5 million in damage.
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