MURIETTA, Calif. — A gas company worker died and a resident was reported missing Monday after a home exploded and caught fire in Murrieta, KABC reported.
The explosion happened about noon in a residential area of the Riverside County city near the intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Smith Ranch.
Today SoCalGas crews responded to reports of a damaged natural gas line & shortly after our crews arrived, there was an explosion. Sadly, one of our employees was fatally injured and others harmed. Our thoughts are with the families & first responders impacted. #Murrieta
— SoCalGas (@socalgas) July 15, 2019
SoCal Gas said workers went to the home on Wooden Horse Trail after a contractor damaged a natural gas line, according to KABC .
One employee died and another was taken to the hospital.
Firefighters fought flames for about two hours after the blast. The area was closed to residents, Murrieta Police reported.