Doorbell-camera footage captured a powerful gas explosion in Ashland, California, on Dec. 11, injuring six people and damaging nearby homes. PG&E says a third-party crew damaged a gas line; crews stopped two separate gas releases at 8:18 a.m. and 9:25 a.m. before an explosion occurred at about 9:35 a.m. Roughly 75 firefighters responded to the three-alarm blaze, and all victims were taken to Eden Medical Center; three were reported in serious condition. PG&E and local authorities are conducting investigations.
Doorbell Camera Captures Massive Gas Explosion in Ashland, California — Six Hospitalized
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Gettygas explosion in Hayward, Calif.
A powerful gas explosion was recorded on a doorbell camera in the Ashland neighborhood near Hayward, California, on the morning of Dec. 11, leaving six people injured and damaging nearby homes.
What Happened
According to Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) and local news reports, company crews were alerted around 7:35 a.m. that an unaffiliated third-party crew had damaged a gas line, creating leaks at multiple locations. PG&E says crews worked to stop two separate releases of natural gas — one halted at about 8:18 a.m. and a second at about 9:25 a.m.. Roughly 10 minutes after the second release was stopped, an explosion and ensuing structure fire occurred on the 800 block of East Lewelling Boulevard at approximately 9:35 a.m..
“The safety of our customers, hometowns and crews is PG&E’s most important responsibility. Those on site, including PG&E crews, worked with first responders to make the area safe. PG&E will be conducting an extensive investigation around potential cause and will support other investigations that may take place.” — PG&E spokesperson
Impact And Response
Doorbell footage shared with local media shows a dramatic blast wave that threw large sections of a house across the street into the air and scattered debris through the neighborhood. Witness Brittany Maldonado described the moment to ABC7: “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.”
AP Photo/Minh ConnorsFirst responders and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. workers at the site of a gas explosion
At least two neighboring homes sustained damage, Alameda County Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto told KRON-4. The Alameda County Fire Department dispatched roughly 75 firefighters to battle a three-alarm fire at the scene.
Six people were transported to Eden Medical Center; hospital officials reported that three of the six were in serious condition. Fire officials believe two of the injured were crew members working in the street when the line was damaged. No fatalities have been reported.
Investigation
PG&E said it will conduct an extensive internal investigation and cooperate with any outside inquiries into the sequence of events that led to the leak and explosion. The Alameda County Fire Department did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment.
Authorities continue to investigate. Local officials and the utility urge anyone with information or footage to share it with investigators.
