House Explosion Rocks Austin Neighborhood, Injuring at Least Six and Damaging Dozens of Homes
- Victor Nwoko
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
A powerful house explosion in Austin, Texas, on Sunday morning left at least six people injured, one home completely leveled, another severely damaged, and at least 24 nearby residences impacted, according to the Austin Fire Department.
The explosion occurred just before 11:30 a.m. at 10407 Double Spur Loop. Emergency crews rescued three people from the debris of the two-story home. Two occupants of the house were hospitalized, one in critical condition and the other in serious but stable condition. A person in a neighboring home was also critically injured. Two firefighters sustained minor injuries while working at the scene, one of whom was taken to a hospital. Another individual was hurt but did not require hospitalization.
The blast was so loud it was heard in suburbs miles away. Police in Cedar Park, approximately 20 miles north of Austin, reported the explosion was heard and felt throughout their city. It was also reported in Georgetown. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation by the Travis County Fire Marshal’s Office. Authorities stated there is no indication of criminal activity, and there was no Texas Gas service connected to the residence that exploded. Officials believe it to be an isolated incident.
Emergency responders from multiple agencies, including the Austin Fire Department, Austin-Travis County EMS, Travis County Sheriff’s Office, Austin Police Department, FBI, and the Texas Department of Emergency Management, responded to the scene. They worked to extinguish a vehicle fire and spot fires in the debris and are now using excavators to clear larger wreckage. Excavators from Austin Water and Lake Travis Fire are assisting in debris removal. The Red Cross is on site to support affected residents.
Power has been restored to most of the area, with the exception of homes that sustained extensive damage. The main road has reopened, but the immediate street around the explosion site remains closed. Officials have accounted for all residents in the area.
Residents described the experience as terrifying. Carol Hassell, who lives nearby, initially thought a branch had fallen on her roof when she heard a loud boom. “I went out in the backyard, and the back door had been blown open,” she said. “I came out to the front, and then I realized all my windows had been blown out and the front door, and there’s extensive damage to some of the ceilings.” Her garage doors and even the deadbolts on her locks were blown in.
Another neighbor, Niki Fletcher, said the blast “sounded like a tree fell down on the house. The house kind of shook. The cat got scared.”
Division Chief Wayne Parrish of the Austin Fire Department confirmed the home was “leveled to the ground,” while a neighboring house sustained severe collapse damage. Injuries among the victims include burns and fractures, and several pets remain missing, with animal control officers working to locate them.
Rumors of a plane crash or law enforcement operation were dismissed by officials, who reiterated that the explosion was not related to any such incident.
The investigation into the cause of the blast is ongoing.
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