August 19th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

Investigators are blaming natural gas for an explosion and fire that killed seven people at a Maryland apartment building.

Daniel Board Jr. is the special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives' Baltimore field division. He said at a news conference Friday that a natural gas explosion occurred in the meter room of the building in Silver Spring on Aug. 10, and a gas-fed fire consumed the apartments above and next door.

Board says further investigation is needed to determine what ignited the fire, but there's no indication of a criminal act, unauthorized access or incendiary device.

Montgomery County Assistant Police Chief Russ Hamill says investigators have identified three of the seven people killed in the fire. He says they don't believe there are more victims.