In a dramatic turn of events in Hayward, California, a colossal explosion rocked the area on Thursday morning, leading to a significant fire that sent at least six individuals to the hospital. This unsettling incident unfolded after a construction crew inadvertently damaged a gas line, according to fire officials.
The Alameda County Fire Department swiftly responded to the crisis with a robust deployment of eight engines and two trucks, as the blaze escalated into a three-alarm fire. The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m., shaking the community just hours after the gas line was compromised.
Among the injured, two are believed to be street workers, although the current state of those hospitalized remains undisclosed by the authorities. The explosion’s impact was captured in stark detail by a Ring doorbell camera, revealing the sheer force of the blast as it violently shook a large building across the street.
Brittany Maldonado, who supplied the gripping footage, recounted the surreal experience: “We were sitting in the house and it just … everything shook. Stuff fell off the walls. And when we looked at the camera, it was like you were watching a war video.”
The explosion and subsequent fire affected two homes, with a workshop in the backyard of one of them suffering severe damage. Another nearby home sustained side damage from the blast. The affected neighborhood, a blend of residential and commercial properties, now faces the daunting task of recovery and rebuilding.
Two homes were impacted by the explosion and fire, and a workshop in the back of one of them. Another home has some damage on the side facing the explosion. The neighborhood is a mixed housing and business area.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company says they were notified that a third-party construction crew damaged an underground gas line around 7:30 a.m. while digging. The street has been the area of a construction project that’s been going on for about a year to widen sidewalks and bike lanes.
PG&E crews responded and worked to stop the flow of gas, which was released at multiple locations, by 9:25 a.m. They say the explosion happened just 10 minutes later at 9:35 a.m.
