Firefighters battled a two-alarm fire after a house exploded Tuesday in Prince William County, Virginia, following a reported gas leak.
It happened on the 5900 block of Colby Hunt Court in Haymarket around 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
Residents up to three miles away reported feeling their homes shake around the time of the explosion.
WTOP’s Dick Uliano reported from the scene Tuesday night and confirmed no injuries were reported but that the homeowner’s pets — two cats and a dog — were killed in the explosion.
One of the homeowners, Jarrett Struniak, told WTOP he and his family were outside the home for about 20 minutes when their neighbors started being evacuated as well.
“They called the fire department around 4:17 p.m., from what I understand, and by 5:30 p.m., the house was up in flames,” Struniak said. “Once … I heard the bang, everything else just kind of went quiet after that. … It’s crazy how surreal and silent things go when you’re watching everything go up in flames.”
“I lost a 10-year best friend and 4-year-old cat that was very much part of our family,” he said.
No injuries were reported other than the animals, as the home was evacuated during the earlier call. Officials said there is no further danger to the surrounding community. Eight homes will have their natural gas service disrupted for up to two days, fire officials said.
Matt Smolsky, assistant chief of community safety with Prince William County Fire and Rescue, said it is still unknown what started the fire, but initial reports involved an underground contractor striking a natural gas line.
First responders with the county said in a Facebook post that multiple units on the scene are also searching nearby homes for fire or gas leaks. The Washington Gas company was also on the scene to secure the leak.
Fire officials said the two families that lived in the home, consisting of four adults and two children, have been displaced. The Red Cross plan to assist the families.
It is the second house explosion in Virginia this year. In February, a firefighter was killed and 13 others were injured after a leaking propane tank led to an explosion at a home in Sterling.
Piedmont Vista Drive is closed off between Hardwood Hill Way and Sorrell Hunt Road, and motorists are being asked to use alternate routes.
Below is a map of where the explosion took place:
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