#BREAKING Gas explosion reported at The Fountains shopping center in Plantation, FL.
A major explosion occurred near the Fountains shopping center in Plantation, Florida, blowing out windows inside an LA Fitness business. Dramatic videos and photos circulated on social media showed a large degree of damage and debris strewn around. You can see them throughout this article.
Preliminary reports had indicated the explosion occurred at the Fountains, but it actually occurred across the street. According to the Miami Herald, “a vacant pizza restaurant undergoing renovation” in a strip mall may be the spot of the explosion, although authorities had not confirmed that. That restaurant is Pizzafire at 1025 S. University Dr.
“The accident in Plantation occurred across the street at Market on University shopping center, not at The Fountains,” according to Morgan Blank, Shopping Center marketing manager, to Heavy. “The Fountains sustained minor damage to store fronts and canopy’s from debris but The Fountains is not the site of the explosion.”
Plantation fire wrote on Twitter that it was a gas explosion with multiple patients. Authorities now say that 15 and 20 people were injured, two seriously.
Gas explosion 800 blk SUD multiple patients
SuD closed
Plantation Fire Deputy Chief Joel Gordon said in a press conference, “Thank goodness nobody was killed. Thank goodness for that… it could have been a lot worse…it could have been tremendously worse.”
A search was completed of the area. “We believe we’ve accounted for everybody… we didn’t find anybody trapped. We did find people who were obviously involved…” he said. Initially, he said 15-20 people were injured.
“We had ruptured gas lines. We did have an active gas leak when we arrived. Broward County’s haz-mat team went in. Whether that was the cause or not, we have not confirmed. The building was occupied. The LA Fitness was. There was a pizza restaurant next to it that was closed,” said Gordon.
He said that initial reports “were of multiple people injured and possibly people trapped. We haven’t confirmed a gas leak just yet but there’s significant debris throughout the entire” area. He added, “We did find several patients throughout the area, mostly confined to the LA Fitness location. We have an approximate account of 15-20 patients at this point. We know there were two that were serious. One was taken as a level 1 trauma.” He said injuries were “mostly related to blast explosion debris – that kind of scenario.”
He added: “We got initial reports of missing people. We went in and searched and so far we haven’t found any.” According to Gordon, gas was shut off for the entire area.
Debris was scattered throughout. Local10 also reported that it’s believed to be a gas explosion.
Debris everywhere following gas explosion in Plantation; University Drive is closed.
The news site said that Plantation, Davie, Lauderhill, Coral Springs, and the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue were all at the scene, and a triage area was set up.
“All stores and businesses in the area of the Fountains Plaza and the Plantation Marketplace plaza near LA Fitness will be shut down until futher notice until Fire Personnel can determine that it is safe to return. Please do not come into this area if possible,” Plantation police wrote.
Explosion video out of Plantation. Requesting additional rescues from other cities. University and Peters
“Avoid the area of University Drive and Peter’s Road. Fire and PD are working an incident involving an explosion,” Plantation police wrote on Twitter, providing no additional details. (See live video here.)
Screenshots from footage shared on Snapchat after a gas explosion in Plantation, Florida.
Journalist Liane Morejon shared the following video and wrote that the explosion occurred across the street from the LA Fitness.
#BREAKING: Massive explosion at the Fountains in Plantation. This video was sent to me by my own cousin who was inside @LAFitness when it happened. The explosion was across the street, and it still caused this much damage at the gym. He’s ok. @WPLGLocal10
“Massive explosion at the Fountains in Plantation. This video was sent to me by my own cousin who was inside @LAFitness when it happened. The explosion was across the street, and it still caused this much damage at the gym. He’s ok,” she wrote. According to ABC News, windows were blown out of the LA Fitness, and “a building next door appeared completely destroyed, with debris strewn in all directions.” It’s not yet clear what was inside that building, however.
A witness who was in the L.A. Fitness describes his experience after a massive explosion at Plantation’s The Fountains shopping center.
Details: t.co/5NsoTMjoYr
According to the Miami Herald, video showed a “charred building near the gym missing its roof.”
The police also wrote: “Plantation Police wants you to know about Police activity in the area of S University Dr & Peters Rd. Please avoid the area. No action required… North bound traffic on University Drive shut down.”
More video coming in from gas explosion at Plantation, FL shopping center. Multiple injuries being reported. @WPLGLocal10
Videos showed the scene, including windows blown out of the LA Fitness. Fire officials were treating people but it was unclear how many.
.@DavieFireRescue Responding to gas explosion near south university Dr. and Peters Road. Gathering more information now. @WPLGLocal10
Initial reports from NBC Miami had said the explosion was at the LA Fitness establishment.
This post is being updated as more information is learned about the Fountains explosion in Plantation.