Photos: Apartment explosion in Silver Spring

Parallel operations continue at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring: a search and recovery for the remains of residents as well as any clues indicating the cause and origin of the explosion that ripped through the complex in the late-night hours of Aug. 10. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Parallel operations continue at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring: a search and recovery for the remains of residents as well as any clues indicating the cause and origin of the explosion that ripped through the complex in the late-night hours of Aug. 10. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Crews with canine unit focus on a corner of the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. An explosion and fire tore through the apartment complex in the late night hours of Aug. 10. At least five people died in the blast, police said Aug. 14. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Crews with canine unit focus on a corner of the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. An explosion and fire tore through the apartment complex in the late night hours of Aug. 10. At least five people died in the blast, police said Aug. 14. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
(WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
(WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
A third body was found on Friday, Aug. 12 in the rubble caused by a fire and explosion in a Silver Spring apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
A third body was found on Friday, Aug. 12 in the rubble caused by a fire and explosion in a Silver Spring apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Flowers left outside of the the Flower Branch apartments after an explosion and fire destroyed the building and left at least three people dead. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Flowers left outside of the the Flower Branch apartments after an explosion and fire destroyed the building and left at least three people dead. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Recovery, clean-up and investigation continue on Saturday, Aug. 13 after the Silver Spring fire and explosion. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Recovery, clean-up and investigation continue on Saturday, Aug. 13 after the Silver Spring fire and explosion. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Crews use a crane to clear wreckage at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Crews use a crane to clear wreckage at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Crews use a crane to clear wreckage at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Emergency personnel clear items from an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. At least two people died and dozens, including three firefighters, were injured after an explosion and large fire at the apartment complex. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People view the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. At least two people died and dozens, including three firefighters, were injured after an explosion and large fire at the apartment complex. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A chain link fence surrounds the site of the fire and explosion at the Flower Branch Apartments. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A chain link fence surrounds the site of the fire and explosion at the Flower Branch Apartments. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the FLower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded on Wednesday. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the Flower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded on Wednesday. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the Flower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded on Wednesday. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the Flower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded in August 2016. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the Flower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded on Wednesday. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
People view the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
People view the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel view the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel view the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
The scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel clear out a basement room of an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel clear out a basement room of an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel investigate the inside of an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. At least two people died and dozens, including three firefighters, were injured after an explosion and large fire at the apartment complex. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Emergency personnel investigate the inside of an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. At least two people died and dozens, including three firefighters, were injured after an explosion and large fire at the apartment complex. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A man looks at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Thursday, August 11, 2016, the day after a deadly fire swept through the building. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
A man looks at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, the day after a deadly fire swept through the building. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
Signs are posted to help those who were affected by the fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Bags of essential items are given to families affected by the Flower Branch apartment fire in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
The view from a nearby parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, shows the damage from an explosion and fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
A man looks at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, the day after a deadly fire swept through the building. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
A sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, the day after an explosion and fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring
The view from a nearby parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, shows the damage from an explosion and fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Photo shows Flower Branch apartment explosion in Silver Spring
The view from a nearby parking lot on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, shows the damage from an explosion and fire at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
Emergency units are seen on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, in Silver Spring, Maryland, the day after a major fire swept through the Flower Branch Apartments. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring
Grace Rivera, long time area resident and active in the immigrant community listens to woman who lost everything: including cash savings, in the Flower Branch Apartments fire in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring
The American Red Cross sign is seen on Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016, the day after a fire swept through the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
Residents look on as crews continue to work in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
Residents look on as crews continue to work in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George' County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George’ County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
Prince George's County Fire/EMS has been called to assist Montgomery County firefighters. (Prince George's Fire/EMS/Marc Bashoor)
Prince George’s County Fire/EMS has been called to assist Montgomery County firefighters. (Prince George’s Fire/EMS/Marc Bashoor)
The aftermath of the explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
The aftermath of the explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
The scene at the fire on Piney Branch Road, in Silver Spring, at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
The scene at the fire on Piney Branch Road, in Silver Spring, at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Another view of the damage after an apartment explosion and fire in Silver Spring Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Another view of the damage after an apartment explosion and fire in Silver Spring Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Fire Chief Scott Goldstein says the scene is being treated as a rescue operation, with "potentially unaccounted for victims." (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Fire Chief Scott Goldstein says the scene is being treated as a rescue operation, with “potentially unaccounted for victims.” (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George' County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George’ County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
A door was blown across the street in a fire and explosion on Piney Branch Road. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A door was blown across the street in a fire and explosion on Piney Branch Road. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A Piney Branch Road apartment was engulfed in flames in a blast Wednesday night in Silver Spring, Md. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service released recordings of 911 calls made during the fire Friday. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
A spokesman with Montgomery County Fire and EMS reported that more than 160 fire and rescue workers are at the scene of an apartment building fire in Silver Spring, Maryland, at around 1 a.m. Thursday. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
A store front across the street was hit by debris after the possible explosion in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
A store front across the street was hit by debris after the possible explosion in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
Smoke still clouds the sky around 1:22 a.m. Thursday as firefighters work to control an apartment fire building in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
Smoke still clouds the sky around 1:22 a.m. Thursday as firefighters work to control an apartment fire building in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
(WTOP/Keara Dowd)
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Parallel operations continue at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring: a search and recovery for the remains of residents as well as any clues indicating the cause and origin of the explosion that ripped through the complex in the late-night hours of Aug. 10. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Crews with canine unit focus on a corner of the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland. An explosion and fire tore through the apartment complex in the late night hours of Aug. 10. At least five people died in the blast, police said Aug. 14. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
A third body was found on Friday, Aug. 12 in the rubble caused by a fire and explosion in a Silver Spring apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Flowers left outside of the the Flower Branch apartments after an explosion and fire destroyed the building and left at least three people dead. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Recovery, clean-up and investigation continue on Saturday, Aug. 13 after the Silver Spring fire and explosion. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Crews use a crane to clear wreckage at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A chain link fence surrounds the site of the fire and explosion at the Flower Branch Apartments. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the FLower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded on Wednesday. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
The wreckage of the Flower Branch Apartments buildings that burned and exploded in August 2016. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
Emergency personnel investigate the inside of an apartment building following a fire in Silver Spring, Md., Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. At least two people died and dozens, including three firefighters, were injured after an explosion and large fire at the apartment complex. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
A man looks at the Flower Branch apartments in Silver Spring, Maryland, on Thursday, August 11, 2016, the day after a deadly fire swept through the building. (WTOP/Kate Ryan)
Silver Spring Fire
Silver Spring Fire
Silver Spring Fire
Silver Spring Fire
Silver Spring
Photo shows Flower Branch apartment explosion in Silver Spring
Silver Spring Fire
Silver Spring
Silver Spring
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
One of the Flower Branch apartment buildings in Silver Spring devastated by an explosion and fire. (Photo courtesy Peter Piringer/Montgomery County Fire & Rescue)
Residents look on as crews continue to work in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George' County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
Prince George's County Fire/EMS has been called to assist Montgomery County firefighters. (Prince George's Fire/EMS/Marc Bashoor)
The aftermath of the explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartment complex. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
The scene at the fire on Piney Branch Road, in Silver Spring, at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Another view of the damage after an apartment explosion and fire in Silver Spring Thursday, Aug. 11, 2016. (WTOP/Dennis Foley)
Fire Chief Scott Goldstein says the scene is being treated as a rescue operation, with "potentially unaccounted for victims." (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
More scenes from the fire on Piney Branch Road. (Prince George' County Fire and EMS/Marc Bashoor)
A door was blown across the street in a fire and explosion on Piney Branch Road. (WTOP/Nick Iannelli)
A Piney Branch Road apartment was engulfed in flames in a blast Wednesday night in Silver Spring, Md. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service released recordings of 911 calls made during the fire Friday. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
A store front across the street was hit by debris after the possible explosion in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
Smoke still clouds the sky around 1:22 a.m. Thursday as firefighters work to control an apartment fire building in Silver Spring, Maryland. (WTOP/Keara Dowd)
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