Fire officials say a gas leak is the cause of a massive explosion Sunday evening at a Centreville home. A gas company was already on the scene at the time of the explosion, WUSA9 reported. Williams Pipeline Corporation and Washington Gas both have lines in the area.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue responded to several reports of a loud explosion and house fire. The house was located in the 14300 block of Quail Pond Court.
Units arrived on the scene around 9:48 p.m. The fire department posted on social media that crews found heavy fire conditions underway. They worked for several hours to bring the fire under control.
FOX5 reported that firefighters also began going door to door urging neighbors to leave the area immediately. Fifty-one homes have been evacuated.
Two people received minor injuries, WUSA9 reported. One of the home’s occupants injured their leg but has been released from the hospital. The other injured person was a neighbor.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue’s Assistant Chief Eric Craven addressed the media on Monday. He said the gas leak did not happen at a common site like a meter. The gas leak is seeping through the ground, making it harder to track the source.
“Right now, the gas companies are on scene as well as the state corporation commission, all regulatory agencies, to ensure everything is done in compliance with code,” said Craven. “They’re doing test holes to ensure that the propagation of that natural gas does not seep and expand into a further perimeter, as well as trying to pinpoint the exact leak on the exact line in the vicinity.”
Officials are advising residents to call 911 immediately if they smell natural gas or an abnormal odor.
Feature image courtesy Fairfax County Fire and Rescue/Facebook
