Live: Fire, explosion near Hayward rocks neighborhood, 6 injured

HAYWARD, Calif. - An explosion and fire in a densely populated area near Hayward populated with residential homes destroyed homes, shut down a freeway and injured six people after a construction crew damaged an underground gas line, according to firefighters, witnesses and PG&E.

Hayward blast, 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.

King laid out the timeline: The crews hit the line about 7:35 a.m. PG&E crews stopped the gas flow at 8:18 a.m., and there was an explosion reported shortly after 9:30 a.m.

In response, the California Highway Patrol shut down Interstate Highway 238 between E. 14th and Lewelling Boulevard and from Mission to Paradise boulevards.

At a brief news conference, 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.

The video also showed smoke billowing from the area and a massive show of firefighters. Alameda County firefighters said they dispatched 75 firefighters to the scene.

Video of explosion

VIDEO: Moment explosion occurred in Hayward neighborhood

Video shared with KTVU shows the moment buildings exploded in a Hayward neighborhood Thursday morning.

A neighbor named Deborah 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."

‘Scene from Hollywood’

Alameda County firefighters respond to an explosion in the 800 block of Lewelling Blvd. in Hayward. Dec. 11, 2025

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," he said.

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.

Alameda County firefighters respond to an explosion in the 800 block of Lewelling Blvd. in Hayward. Dec. 11, 2025