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A two-inch gas line was ruptured in a Haymarket neighborhood, later sparking a house explosion.
HAYMARKET, Va. — Community support for the families impacted by a house explosion in Haymarket on Monday evening continues to grow.
The Piedmont Homeowner’s Association said it’s been overwhelmed by the kind offers since the incident on Tuesday afternoon.
The community has established a drop-off location in the library at the Piedmont Club for donations. Since Tuesday night, many people have already left numerous bags filled with clothes and toys.
HOA President John Sivori told WUSA9 that they’re working to establish two platforms to accept monetary donations.
Four adults and two children renting a home on Colby Hunt Court near Piedmont Vista Drive were displaced after the house exploded due to a gas leak around 5:30 p.m.
Prince William County fire officials confirmed a private contractor working to replace a water line to the home struck and ruptured a two-inch gas line. The gas reached an ignition source that sparked the explosion, although the exact source is under investigation.
At 4:26 p.m., Washington Gas was requested assistance. Shortly thereafter, the destroyed home and the homes in the immediate area were evacuated. The gas company arrived at 5:13 p.m., roughly 15 minutes before the explosion.
“It was very frightening,” neighbor Sheryl Fahey said. “It was a huge boom. It was not the kind of sound that you normally hear. You felt it in your chest.”
Rob Karas said he was standing outside of the house speaking to a fire chief when he felt the “immense pressure” from the blast.
“I was facing this way, and I hear this boom, and I get pushed,” Karas described. “Last night, my whole back was hurting. I was in pain.”
Not one person was hurt. Other neighbors have been able to return to their homes but still with no gas.
A representative of the State Division of Utility and Railroad Safety is also on the scene to investigate the incident.
The fire chief said it’s a civil matter between the responsible party and homeowner and occupants to take care of the damage repair.
“I actually think that when you have a leak from your house to the street, that it should be the water company that addresses it,” Fahey added. “Even if they end up billing you, but hopefully these kinds of situation would not happen in the future because if you a hire a contractor, if they hit the line, that could happen to any one of us which is really frightening.”
While no people were hurt, three pets are still missing.
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