KENSINGTON, Md. - The wind cut a deep and wide path Tuesday through the region, toppling at least one tree and chilling tourists on the National Mall.

"It's very, very cold," said Tessa Stout. "It, like, just whips through your whole body."

In Garrett Park, Maryland, a powerful gust toppled a tree onto a house. Resident Stan Benjamin described it as "just a big, heavy thump that sort of shook the house."

The tree smashed a deck, pulled down utility lines and ruptured a gas line, forcing the evacuation of two homes.

It was a "potentially dangerous situation," said Montgomery County (web | news) Fire spokesman Oscar Garcia, "with natural gas and power lines and this large tree coming down on the yard."

The tree missed one home and a neighbor's car by only inches.

"It's missed my car by three inches as well," said Shirin Keyani. "I had my Mini parked right there."

Crews from Verizon and Washington Gas working on restoring service.

On the National Mall, tourists scrambled between tourist attractions, trying to avoid the gusts.

"It is just really cold. My kids are freezing." said Becky Patterson.

In Leesburg, firefighters struggled against a wind-whipped blaze. They rescued several people from the fire in the 100 block of Hancock Place NE about 12:20 p.m. Tuesday. 

In Carroll County, Md., officials say two children were injured, one seriously, when a tree fell on  them at a county-run nature camp.

County spokeswoman Vivian Laxton says a 9-year-old boy and a  10-year-old girl were taken by ambulance to a local hospital. The
boy, who was seriously hurt, was then transferred to Johns Hopkins  Children's Center in Baltimore. The girl was treated and released. 

Laxton says the tree fell shortly before 10 a.m. Tuesday at  Hashawha Environmental Center north of Westminster as the campers were preparing to go on a hike. Adults on the scene called 911. The Carroll County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

It's not clear why the tree fell, but Laxton says the area was receiving wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour.

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