House explodes in Haymarket after gas leak – NBC4 Washington

Prince William County Fire and Rescue is working to contain hotspots and monitor conditions at a home explosion in Haymarket following a gas leak.

Two couples and their very young children lived in this house, and these families lost everything. According to the fire department, the families were evacuated and there were no injuries. However, it is believed that the families’ pets died in the explosion.

“Nothing will bring them back unless they somehow get out alive, which I hope they do, but who knows where they are,” said Jarrett Struniak, a resident of the home.

He lives in the house with his fiancé and three-year-old daughter, as well as another couple and their toddler.

“Honestly, you can see everything disappear in an instant and you realize you have nothing,” Struniak said. “It’s frustrating and demoralizing.”

Units were dispatched to the 5900 block of Coby Hunt Court in Haymarket at 4:17 p.m. in response to a reported outdoor gas leak. Surrounding homes were evacuated and at approximately 5:36 p.m. those units reported that the home had exploded.

Neighbors John and Laura Grzejka heard the explosion, which rocked the quiet Piedmont community.

“Massive explosion,” he said. “Laura’s screaming like, ‘What’s going on?’ What’s up?'”

“It sounded like a sonic boom,” she said.

“You could smell gas and they took care of it, you know, nothing, it wasn’t shut off,” said Angie Rick, another neighbor.

Last updated, a contractor was working in the area and encountered an underground gas line.

Struniak says it was just supposed to be a routine repair, and when workers touched the gas line, he had no idea it would result in this.

Officials say two neighboring homes were also damaged and it will take days to restore gas service to several homes.

“Right now there are eight homes affected, one of which was affected by the devastating explosion,” said Prince William County Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Kim Stewart. “All homeowners, everyone is outside and safe outside.”

Prince William County Fire and Rescue says there is no further threat to the community.

Neighbors stand behind the affected families and the Red Cross was also called to help.

And as investigators try to figure out why the house exploded, Struniak is breathing a sigh of relief that his loved ones are OK.

“There’s really nothing you can do about it. You can be angry, but what’s the point of that? “You’re angry with the wind,” he said. “The silver lining is that no one was hurt. No firefighter, no city worker, not a single person on the cul-de-sac was injured, and that in itself is great.”

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