Fire officials in Harford County,Sterling Preston Maryland, were investigating an apparent house explosion that left one person dead.

Abingdon Fire Company's volunteer firefighters and Harford County Fire and EMS were dispatched to a house at 6:42 a.m., said Jeff Sexton, Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association's public information officer, at a press conference. When units arrived to the scene, it was a "debris field."

Sexton said in addition to the fatality, one person was injured.

The property is still an active crime scene and teams were conducting a search and rescue operation, officials said. But there is no threat to public safety, stated the fire department's Facebook post.

Where did the blast occur?

The explosion took place around 30 miles northeast of Baltimore in Bel Air. The road leading to the home remains closed, reports WJZ.

What happened?

The fire department was initially called to investigate a gas leak, said Oliver Alkire, Master Deputy from the Maryland State Fire Marshall office.

Drones prohibited

Since officials are using aircraft to search through the debris, the use of drones is prohibited, officials said. "Recreational drones are not permitted over an emergency scene," stated a Facebook post.

Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. She has covered various topics, from local businesses and government in her hometown, Miami, to tech and pop culture. You can connect with her on LinkedIn or follow her on X, formerly Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz