Eight people were hospitalized following a home explosion in Chino Hills on Sunday, Nov. 16.
Crews responded around 3:45 p.m. after an apparent home explosion in the 4200 block of Sierra Vista Drive, west of the 71 Freeway and east of Pipeline Avenue, where firefighters found major damage to one home and minor damage to neighboring homes, including shattered windows, according to the Chino Valley Fire District.
Four people were treated at the scene and taken to a hospital. Another four people who may have been injured took themselves to a hospital before emergency responders arrived, the Fire District said.
The victims were inside the home at the time of the explosion, and their injuries were not life threatening, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Crews evacuated 16 homes in the area as a precaution, the Fire District said. Sierra Vista Drive remained closed between Del Norte and Descanso avenues as of about 5:30 p.m.
The cause of the explosion remains under investigation, though the Sheriff’s Department said preliminary reports said a gas leak may have caused the home to catch fire.
Crews from Southern California Gas were on scene to disconnect gas to the home, Chino Valley Fire Battalion Chief John Cripe told OnScene.TV, a freelance news organization.