The homeowner and the Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. contractor who were killed in the Bel Air home explosion Sunday morning have been identified by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal, according to a Monday news release.
First responders discovered the body of one of the two BGE contracted utility workers addressing an electrical issue at the home prior to the explosion. Investigators said the victim was 35-year-old Jose Rodriguez-Alvarado.
Rodriguez-Alvarado’s body was recovered shortly after the blast, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Search-and-rescue crews worked throughout the day Sunday, clearing debris and searching for additional victims. Hours after the blast, crews recovered the body of the homeowner, 73-year-old Ray Corkran Jr.
Corkran was believed to be the only resident of the home that he formerly owned with his wife, Phyllis Corkran, who, according to the Office of Register of Wills, died in September 2018.
A next-door neighbor was also treated at the scene for minor injuries, according to emergency officials.
The fire marshal and the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Task Force have concluded their on-scene investigation, according to the release, and the scene has been turned over to insurance representatives.
Crews have started clearing debris, and restoration efforts have begun on neighboring homes that were damaged in the blast, according to the fire marshal’s office.
Investigators are moving to review evidence and data collected from their on-scene investigation, according to the release. Investigators will review items like gas and electrical piping of the home, video surveillance and data from BGE, according to the release.
The fire marshal’s office said there is no evidence of criminal activity and that investigators will continue to focus on accidental causes.
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