Explosion near Hayward rocks neighborhood, leaves 6 injured

HAYWARD, Calif. - An explosion and fire erupted in a Hayward residential area on Thursday, destroying homes, shutting down a freeway and injuring six people after a construction crew struck an underground gas line, according to firefighters, witnesses and PG&E. 

Hayward explosion causes injuries

PG&E spokesman Jason King said a third-party construction crew damaged an underground gas line while digging on in the 800 block Lewelling Boulevard two hours before the explosion, which took PG&E two hours to get the gas turned off.

King laid out the timeline: The crews hit the line about 7:35 a.m. PG&E crews stopped the gas flow at 9:35 a.m., and there was an explosion reported at 9:38 a.m. 

In response, the California Highway Patrol shut down a portion of Interstate Highway 238. And Alameda County Sheriff's Sgt. Roberto Morales said deputies arrived within two minutes of the initial call and immediately started getting people away from hazardous areas. 

At a news conference, Alameda County fire officials said six people were taken to the hospital; aerial video at the scene showed at least two people being loaded onto stretchers in the middle of the street and smoke billowing high into the sky. 

PG&E later told KTVU that three of the company's workers were among the injured, but did not reveal their conditions. A family member told KTVU that the three other people who were injured were residents of the home that exploded, and that they were being treated for third-degree burns. The fire department said some of the people had broken bones. 

PG&E also said that the National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating the explosion.

RELATED: Video shows moment explosion occurred in Hayward neighborhood

All residents now accounted for

For a brief period, Alameda County firefighters said two people were unaccounted for following the blast, since their cars were not in the neighborhood, but later in the afternoon, spokesperson Cheryl Hurd said all residents were accounted for.

Alameda County Deputy Fire Chief Ryan Nishimoto said during the fire fight, first responders could feel "electric shocks," so they had to back off from the blaze.

Alameda County firefighters said they dispatched 75 firefighters to the third-alarm fire. 

The department specified on Thursday evening that the explosion destroyed three buildings on two separate properties and caused damage to adjacent homes. 

Video of explosion

Christian Maldanado, who lives on the street, shared Nest video of the explosion.

The video showed a major blast shooting smoke and debris into the air, and a construction truck nearby. Glass shattered all over his yard.

"I heard a loud bang, it shook the whole house," Maldanado said.

RAW VIDEO: SkyFox over Hayward fire and explosion

He ran outside and saw the explosion.

"It was scary," he said. "It was like a scene from Hollywood. It was unreal."

Another resident named Steve, who lives a mile away, felt the blast shaking his house. He got in the car and went to check on his aunt, who lives in the area.

"I was worried, but she finally called me back," he said. 

Recent construction 

Debra Omotoy told KTVU that she heard and saw an explosion emanating from a home on the street.

"Every window in my house was blown open," she said. "There are cracks in the ceiling. My house is destroyed."

She said she lamented the construction that had been going on in front of her house.

"They've been doing these roads for months," she said. "The last couple of days, they've been really digging out, hopefully laying cement, the last of it."

She said she heard the crews out at about 7:30 a.m. and her husband feared they had hit a gas line.

"Just so you know, we all fought this," she said. "They took part of our yard." 

KTVU reached out to the Alameda County Public Works Department to understand the issue and get more clarification but did not immediately hear back. 

The department's website describes the East Lewelling Boulevard project as one that will widen sidewalks, add bike lanes and high-visibility crosswalks and improve railroad crossings. 

Another neighbor, Cathy Rodriguez, who lives four houses from the explosion, concurred about her disapproval of the street project.

She said in December 2024, neighbors got notes on their door from the Alameda County Public Works Department strongly suggesting they sign it, "or else we'd have to pay for work on the road."

She said she signed it because she felt "manipulated." 

 

HaywardCrime and Public Safety