Doorbell camera captures moment a home blows up in California, and what caused it has residents furious

A gas line explosion destroyed a home in Hayward, California, leaving six people injured and two others missing. The blast was so powerful that debris scattered across the entire neighborhood. A Ring doorbell camera caught the whole terrifying moment on video.

According to The Sun, the doorbell camera footage shows a massive plume of thick black smoke billowing into the sky as bright orange flames erupt from the spot where the blast occurred. The video captures the terrifying scene in real time – neighbours running, shouting, and scrambling for safety as the fireball tears through this quiet Bay Area street.

Investigators say the explosion happened after construction workers accidentally struck underground gas lines while grading the road. The impact ruptured the lines, triggering an immediate and powerful blast. That detail has left many residents furious. They argue the workers should have taken greater precautions, and they’re now blaming the crew for damaging the gas infrastructure and causing a disaster that destroyed homes, injured multiple people, and left the community shaken.

Construction mistakes led to devastating neighborhood damage

Brittany Maldonado was inside her house when the explosion happened. “We were sitting in the house and it just… everything shook,” Maldonado told reporters. “Stuff fell off the walls and when we looked at the camera, it was like you were watching a war video.” Doorbell cameras have captured disturbing incidents caught on home security footage before, but this explosion was particularly devastating.

More than 75 fire officers responded to control the fire. The explosion completely destroyed one home and damaged two other houses and a workshop nearby. PG&E has started an investigation to find out what went wrong during the road grading work.

Six people were hurt in the blast, with three of them in serious condition. A child was among the injured, left bloody and in shock. One witness, Oscar Vazquez, thought the child might have a dislocated arm from the impact.

Gas line accidents in California bring up painful memories. This explosion happened about 15 years after the San Bruno gas explosion that killed eight people and destroyed more than 20 homes. In July, a fireworks explosion also destroyed a warehouse in northern California. Ring cameras continue to document shocking events captured on doorbell footage, showing how these devices record both everyday moments and tragic incidents.

The PG&E investigation needs to hold the responsible parties accountable. This explosion was caused by workers damaging infrastructure, which could have been avoided with proper safety measures.