Utility workers are hurt, a home is damaged and cars are destroyed after a gas line explosion and fire Wednesday in Northern Virginia, officials say.
Three workers were taken to a hospital with burns and injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening, the Fairfax County fire department said.
Aerial footage from Chopper4 shows tall, orange flames leaping into the air and crews working for hours to get the blaze under control.
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Pastor Don Jamison heard the blast just outside a window of his home.
“I heard the explosion and went to the window and saw that the fire was going up, and then within a matter of a little bit, multiple explosions from the fuel tanks and the equipment went off,” he said.
Washington Gas workers were doing scheduled repairs when the explosion occurred without warning in the 8100 block of Hooes Road, in the Springfield area, the fire department said. The blast rocked the neighborhood, and an emergency call was placed at about 12:30 p.m.
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The workers were taken to hospitals, residents were evacuated from their homes, and crews spent hours trying to turn off the gas and prevent the flames from leaping to houses.
Jamison opened his nearby church, Sydenstricker United Methodist Church, to any neighbors who needed someplace to stay warm.
Drivers were asked to avoid the area.
Finally, the fire was out and the gas was turned off before 4 p.m.
An investigation into the cause of the explosion is underway.
Stay with NBC Washington for more details on this developing story.
