The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) opened the public docket Monday as part of its ongoing investigation of the Aug. 10, 2016, apartment building explosion fueled by natural gas in Silver Spring, Maryland.

7 people killed

The explosion and fire in a four-story apartment building, part of the Flower Branch apartment complex in Silver Spring, Maryland, resulted in seven fatalities and 65 civilians were transported to local medical facilities. Also, 3 firefighters sustained minor injuries. An attached, adjacent apartment building sustained explosion damage and was immediately involved in the fire.  

(Above: This front view of the accident scene shows two explosion-damaged buildings on Arliss Street, Silver Spring, Maryland. Building 8701 is located at the right center and building 8703 is located at the left of the photograph. (Photo provided by Public Service Commission of Maryland)

The docket includes factual reports that cover various aspects of the investigation, including operations, survival factors, materials laboratory, and regulatory oversight. The docket also includes interview transcripts, pertinent photographs, and other investigative material.

The docket contains only factual information collected by NTSB investigators; and it does not provide the final report, analysis, findings, recommendations, or probable cause determinations. No conclusions about how or why the explosion occurred should be drawn from the information within the docket at this time. Analysis, findings, recommendations, and probable cause determinations related to the explosion will be issued by the NTSB at a later date.

The docket material is available online at: https://go.usa.gov/xRdDB

Additional material may be added to the docket as it becomes available.