FORESTVILLE, Md. -- A Prince George's County firefighter who was seriously injured in a gas explosion at a Forestville shopping center is telling his story of survival.

When Captain Robert Rouse looks at the video of the explosion at the Foresville shopping center, all he can do is shake his head, knowing he was inside when the building exploded.

"Just looking at the video -- people might not believe in God, but I'm telling you there's something going on here," he said.

Rouse was in charge of the first fire unit to arrive on the scene after a gas leak was reported at the mall. After helping evacuate the building, he ordered his crew to stay outside while he went in to assess the situation.

When he got to the back of one of the stores, he saw an electric meter on fire. With the smell of natural gas in the air, he knew he was in trouble.

"I decided at that point to try to jump as far as I could out the rear. That must have been when the explosion occurred," said Rouse.

At the same time, volunteer firefighter Greg Powell was getting ready to pull a hose inside the building to put out the fire when the blast knocked him off his feet and threw him ten feet into the shopping center parking lot. He suffered bruised ribs, a sprained shoulder and cuts to his hand. Meanwhile, a mayday went out for Rouse.

Rouse was barely able to jump out of the building in time. He picked himself up, his face and hands burned, and somehow made it around to the front of the shopping center where help awaited. It's still hard for him to believe he survived.

"It was God's grace that allowed me to come out," said Rouse.

Republished with permission of WUSA-TV.

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