Community Corner
Final Firefighter Injured In Sterling House Explosion Returns Home
Brian Diamond, a teacher and volunteer firefighter injured in the house explosion, was welcomed home from the burn center.
STERLING, VA — The final firefighter injured in the Sterling house explosion in February was released from the hospital and welcomed home Wednesday.
According to the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company, Brian Diamond was the last firefighter in the hospital and was released from the Burn Center at MedStar Washington Hospital Center Wednesday.
Diamond, a Loudoun County Public Schools teacher who serves as a volunteer firefighter, was one of 14 injured in the Feb. 16 home explosion at 347 Silver Ridge Drive in Sterling. The explosion killed Sterling Volunteer Fire Company firefighter Trevor Brown.
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Diamond was rescued from the exploded home and taken to the burn center with significant second and third-degree burns, according to Loudoun County Fire and Rescue. He had multiple surgeries and recovered enough to be released after more than a month.
See Diamond's welcome home video from the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company.
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At the Sterling volunteer fire station in Cascades, Diamond told reporters about how he was inside the home when it exploded.
"I was down in that basement and I said a prayer and God got me out of that," Diamond said, according to Loudoun Now.
Diamond credited his wife, Lisa, for her support, Loudoun Now reported. He hopes to return to his volunteer firefighter position when recovered.
"Brian and his family still have a long road ahead, but we are elated that he is home with his wife and children," said Loudoun County's System Fire Chief Keith Johnson in a statement. "The members of our fire and rescue family along with our amazing community partners will continue to support the Diamond’s along their healing journey. This is also an important milestone for our entire system to begin to heal from this tragedy."
The community can continue to support the injured first responders and Brown's family through the Loudoun First Responders Foundation.
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