Multiple homes in a Santa Maria neighborhood were damaged in an explosion on Wednesday.
It happened shortly after 12 p.m. on Jackie Ln. near Estes Dr.
A KSBY News crew at the scene says at least one home appears to be completely destroyed, while neighboring homes sustained broken windows and debris is strewn across the neighborhood.
Fire officials at the scene say the explosion appears to be the result of a gas leak; however, the exact cause remains under investigation. SoCalGas also responded to the scene.
The Santa Maria Police Department reports that when its officers arrived at the scene the home was on fire. Officers reportedly pulled several residents from neighboring homes who required medical treatment.
Santa Maria city officials say four people were taken to the hospital to be treated for injuries. One was a female who was extricated from the home that exploded. The others were at neighboring homes.
"I was sitting here on my chair doing some potting soil and all of a sudden I felt the blast and I felt the percussion," described neighbor Chief Martinez. "It felt like somebody pushed me. I was sitting on a chair with my back to the blast."
"First, I thought it was an earthquake, and then it was just a huge explosion and you know, things were falling off the walls, the blinds were rattling. Our two windows at the front were blown out," said neighbor Linda Brock. "It was quite scary."
Officials say Santa Barbara County is providing an excavator and a search dog to search for any remaining victims in the rubble.
