House explodes in Chino Hills, injuring several, including children

Chino Hills families shaken by house explosion

A home explosion in Chino Hills rocked the community, displacing families and leaving up to eight people hurt.

CHINO HILLS, Calif. - A quiet residential street in Chino Hills was rocked by a massive explosion Sunday night, destroying a home, injuring eight people and temporarily forcing the evacuation of 16 nearby residences. 

What we know:

The blast on Sierra Vista Drive was so powerful it was felt blocks away, launching debris like missiles, denting vehicles, and setting a brick wall on fire. Car alarms wailed, and panicked screams filled the air in the aftermath.

"It was like a big boom. It felt like a bomb had gone off," neighbor Andrew Huynh told FOX 11.

"The whole house shook," said another neighbor. "It was way scarier than an earthquake."

Chino Hills neighborhood rocked by explosion

Eight people were injured after a house explosion in the Inland Empire. While injuries were reported, everyone is expected to survive.

Eight people, including young children, were rushed to local hospitals with injuries. Remarkably, no one was killed.

Southern California Gas responded to the scene, and firefighters evacuated surrounding homes as a precaution. One resident was seen carrying a pet pig to safety, while a dog from the heavily damaged home was rescued but visibly shaken.

"The cause of the explosion is still under investigation," said Massiel De Guevara of the Chino Valley Fire District.

Investigators remained on scene late Sunday working to determine what sparked the blast. While officials would not speculate, several neighbors noted police had responded to the home multiple times in recent days, including earlier Sunday.

House explodes in Chino Hills; Up to 8 hurt

A house exploded in Chino Hills, displacing families and injuring up to eight people.

"They were here this morning for a call. The past couple of days we’ve seen people getting detained at the house," Huynh said.

Another neighbor, Jamie Alvarez, added, "When they moved in, there was a bunch of shady stuff happening."

When asked if the explosion could be connected to the earlier police activity, De Guevara said, "I can’t speculate with what happened with law enforcement."

Overall, two homes were left red-tagged by the fire department. In addition, dozens of evacuated residents were allowed back into their homes late Sunday night after utility crews cut off gas to the home. 

A GoFundMe has since been launched for the explosion victims. Those looking to help can click here.