NEED TO KNOW
- Doorbell footage captured a large gas explosion in a residential California neighborhood
- Six people were hospitalized, but no fatalities have been reported
- At least two nearby homes were also damaged, according to local news
A massive gas explosion in a California neighborhood that caused six people to be hospitalized was caught on a doorbell camera.
The incident happened at approximately 9:35 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11 in the unincorporated community of Ashland, near the city of Hayward, KCRA, KRON-4 and ABC 7 News reported.
“The safety of our customers, hometowns and crews is PG&E’s most important responsibility,” a spokesperson for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) said in a statement to PEOPLE.
AP Photo/Minh Connors
Around 7:35 a.m., PG&E was alerted “that a third-party, unaffiliated” crew damaged a gas line, causing a leak at various locations. PG&E crews were dispatched and stopped the flow of gas at approximately 9:25 a.m., with the explosion happening about 10 minutes later.
“Once on site, crews worked to address two separate releases of gas. One release of natural gas was stopped at 8:18 am and the second release was stopped at 9:25am. Shortly after, at approx. 9:35 am, an explosion and structure fire occurred on Lewelling Blvd.,” a PG&E spokesperson told PEOPLE.
“Those on site, including PG&E Crews, worked with first responders on site to make the area safe,” the statement continued. “PG&E will be conducting an extensive investigation around potential cause and will support other investigations that may take place.”
“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,” Brittany Maldonado, who provided the doorbell cam footage, told ABC7 News.
Her video showed large portions of the home directly across the street from hers flying into the air.
One construction worker who was exiting a truck parked on her grass could be seen quickly reacting to the sudden, loud noise as he threw his arms into the air and then attempted to shield himself from any debris.
At least two nearby homes also sustained damage, KRON-4 reported, citing Alameda County Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto.
At least 75 firefighters with the Alameda County Fire Department responded to the three-alarm fire at the 800 block of East Lewelling Blvd, per ABC 7 News.
Six people were taken to hospitals for injuries, fire officials said, according to the local news station.
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Fire officials believe two of the six people injured were crew members who had been working in the street. Hospital officials said all the victims were taken to Eden Medical Center, with three of six victims in serious condition, per ABC 7 News.
No fatalities have been reported.
The Alameda County Fire Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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