Baltimore County fire triggers EXPLOSION and leaves 7 hurt after man ‘set himself ablaze inside nail salon’

SEVEN people, including six first responders, were hurt on Monday when a fire at a strip mall triggered an explosion.

The flames broke out at a Baltimore shopping center with firefighters warning that hazmat materials may have been involved.

Baltimore County Fire Department

A fire, possibly fueled by hazardous materials, caused an explosion at a shopping center in Maryland on Monday night[/caption]

CBS/BALTIMORE WJZ

Photos from the scene showed police tape and fire vehicles surrounding a nail salon after the explosion[/caption]

The incident happened at the 1700 block of Rolling Road in Windsor Mill, Maryland.

A spokesman for the fire department said emergency crews were called to Libra Nails and Spa around 9.30pm following a report that a former employee was on the premises.

An explosion happened inside the salon, Lt Travis Francis said.

Other stores in the area include a Jiu-Jitsu academy, a Chinese restaurant, and a Halal grill restaurant.

People were advised to avoid the area before the Baltimore County Fire Department was able to get control of the flames.

“Minor explosion has sent 4 police officers, 2 EMS providers and 1 civilian to the hospitals,” a tweet by the fire department said.

Six of the injured were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

However, the person believed to be a former employee had life-threatening injuries, local media indicated.

A cause of the fire was not immediately available on Monday night.

Police were investigating.

More to follow…

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