Just after 4 a.m. on Sunday, neighbors around Sparkleberry Terrace in northeast Leesburg woke up to a startling noise—what some described as a boom. Within minutes, fire engines and police cruisers lined the streets near Ginko Terrace.
Loudoun County Fire and Rescue, alongside the Fire Marshal’s Office and Leesburg Police, responded after someone called 911 to report what sounded like an explosion.
When first responders arrived, they found several manhole covers had been blown out of place. A light smoke lingered in the air, but fortunately, no one was hurt, and there were no fires or other obvious hazards in the area.
Investigators haven’t confirmed what caused the incident yet. The Fire Marshal’s Office has launched an official investigation and is asking residents to check their doorbell or security cameras. Anyone with footage from around the time of the incident—or any other information—is asked to contact Investigator Dillon Huss at 571-528-3964 or email dutyfm@loudoun.gov.
As of now, officials say there’s no ongoing threat to the public. But folks in the area are understandably rattled.
This isn’t the first time Loudoun’s older underground utility systems have shown signs of strain as the county continues to grow. We’ll keep following this story and bring you updates as we learn more.
