Haymarket home explosion: Investigators look into possible gas leak

HAYMARKET, Va. - Firefighters responded to a devastating house explosion in Haymarket on Tuesday after being called to a suspected gas leak. 

At 4:17 p.m., Prince William County Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky said emergency responders were alerted to the suspected outside gas leak along Colby Hunt Court, and upon arrival, they evacuated the home as a precautionary measure.

Just over an hour later, at approximately 5:36 p.m., firefighters at the scene said the house exploded. 

Initial reports suggest that an underground contractor may have struck a natural gas line.

Jarrett Struniak, who had recently moved into the home, watched in disbelief as crews battled the flames. 

"Just getting routine maintenance done on the house — something that happens to normal people across America. You just never really think they're going to blow your house up," Struniak said. "I guess it's still more of a shock than anything. Just thinking about what steps could've been taken to prevent this, and us not being without a home that we literally just moved into. It's too much to take on at once."

While no injuries have been reported, the blast displaced two unrelated families who lived in the residence, consisting of four adults and two children. Struniak told FOX 5 he is renting the home with his fiancée, his 3-year-old daughter, his best friend, and his wife and their son. There are also two dogs and three cats who live in the house. 

Struniak said they lost everything in the fire, and the two cats were missing. 

The Red Cross has been called in to assist the families.

In the aftermath of the explosion, Assistant Chief Smolsky said eight nearby homes will experience disrupted natural gas service for up to two days. Several vehicles were also damaged by flying debris from the explosion.

Homes in the immediate vicinity have had their electrical service restored, and residents have been allowed to go back inside them. 

Fire crews are still working to extinguish any remaining flames and conducting an overhaul of the scene. The gas company has secured the leak, and officials have assured residents that there is no further danger to the community. 

The cause of the explosion remains under investigation. 

FOX 5's Shomari Stone contributed to this report.