2 Victims In Sunday's Bel Air Home Explosion Identified: Maryland Fire Marshal

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — The victims of an early Sunday morning house explosion in Bel Air have been identified as 73-year-old Ray Corkran Jr., the homeowner, and 35-year-old Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado, a contract worker for BGE utility company.

Maryland Deputy State Fire Marshals and federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents have wrapped up their on-scene investigation and turned the scene over to the insurance representatives. Crews have started cleaning up the debris strewn across the neighborhood, and restoration companies are beginning to make repairs to nearby homes that were damaged during the early Sunday morning explosion, officials said.

Investigators now will focus on reviewing the evidence and data they collected Sunday. The state fire marshal's office said there is no evidence of criminal activity and will continue to investigate for accidental causes.

At around 6:40 a.m. Aug. 11, the Abingdon Fire Company was called to 2300 Arthur Woods Drive for a reported outside gas leak. As firefighters were en route, Harford County 911 began receiving multiple calls that the same house had exploded. Firefighters arrived and confirmed that the house had exploded, damaged several others causing injury to the next door neighbor, and received reports that someone inside the home had been killed, officials reported.

Investigators learned the home was for sale and that one person may have still been inside at the time of the explosion. Firefighters and emergency personnel from the Harford County Special Operations worked throughout the day, along with K9 teams trained in human scent, searching for anyone who may have been inside the home. With the assistance of heavy machinery, investigators located a victim within the debris whose identity was confirmed Monday morning as the homeowner.

Twelve families were displaced due to damage to their nearby properties. The neighboring home where a woman was injured appeared to have a partially collapsed roof and a massive hole in its siding. More than 60 first responders from multiple agencies assisted at the scene.

"Our hearts are broken for the two victims and their families. Our team of highly qualified investigators and our partners at ATF are dedicated to providing an answer that will lead to safer communities," said Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray. "A tragedy of this size is heart-wrenching for Maryland."

Related: House Explosion Leaves 2 Dead, 12 Families Displaced In Bel Air