Photo: Albemarle County Fire and Rescue
A house explosion at 2331 Ferndown Ln. shook Keswick’s Glenmore neighborhood on August 19. One person was killed and another is recovering at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Evans-Haynes Burn Center.
The blast, caused by a suspected gas leak, leveled a large two-story home with a basement, and scattered debris—including insulation, bricks, and wood—across adjacent properties. Area residents more than half a mile away from the house reported feeling the explosion, which occurred around 6pm, and said it could be heard almost 10 miles away. The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents of 12 homes that sustained property damage.
The deceased, identified by the medical examiner’s office as Justine M. Joscelyne, 76, was checking on the home at the time of the explosion. Prior to the blast, she reportedly asked the other victim for help identifying the source of a gas smell.
The second victim, identified as an adult male, was initially taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center, and later transferred to VCU’s burn center, where he is in stable condition.
According to Albemarle County Fire Rescue, the homeowners were not at the property at the time of the explosion.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, with the Albemarle County Fire Marshal’s Office and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives both looking into the cause. Parts of the neighborhood were blocked off immediately following the incident while emergency responders evaluated the scene. ACFR concluded its preliminary investigation on August 22 after evaluating 202 homes.
“We know this is a difficult time for the Glenmore community, and we will stand with them every step of the way,” said ACFR Chief Dan Eggleston in an August 20 statement. “Our priority moving forward is twofold: to ensure the safety and stability of the affected homes and to help this neighborhood recover.”
Specialized care
The transfer of the male victim to VCU’s burn center highlights the distinction between trauma care and burn-specific treatment. UVA Medical Center was re-certified as a Level 1 Trauma Center by the American College of Surgeons on August 19, the fourth time since 2015 the medical center has received the highest possible trauma care designation from the ACS. It operates the DeCamp Burn & Wound Healing Center, which has six beds, treats moderate to severe burns and complex wounds. However, VCU’s 16-bed Evans-Haynes Burn Center is the oldest civilian burn hospital in the country and the only Level 1 Comprehensive Adult and Pediatric Burn Center in the state certified by the American Burn Association.
To qualify for a Level 1 trauma recognition, medical centers “must be capable of providing system leadership and comprehensive trauma care for all injuries,” as defined by the ACS in the book Resources for the Optimal Care of the Injured Patient. Most Level 1 trauma centers, including UVA, are “university-based teaching hospitals due to the resources required for patient care, education, and research. In addition to providing acute trauma care, these centers have an important role in local trauma system development, regional disaster planning, increasing capacity, and advancing trauma care through research.”
Guidelines for burns associated with natural gas explosions usually recommend immediate referral to a burn center. Due to the mechanism of injury, natural gas and other blast burns are typically found alongside other conditions resulting from the blast wave, projectiles, and being thrown from the explosion.
While the American College of Surgeons has strict standards for trauma center certification, including burn care, the American Burn Association’s requirements are more rigorous and come with an initial application and annual reverification fee of $6,000. As of 2024, Less than 50 hospitals in the United States, including VCU, are ABA verified for both adult and pediatric burn care.
