MURRIETA, Calif. (KGTV) - A gas company worker died and 15 people were injured Monday after a home exploded and caught fire in Murrieta, officials said.
The explosion happened just after noon in a residential area of the Riverside County city near the intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Smith Ranch.
Murrieta Fire crews went to the home on Wooden Horse Trail about 11 a.m. due to a report of a ruptured gas line and a gas leak, said Murrieta deputy fire Chief David Lantzer.
The explosion happened just after noon, sending 15 people to the hospital. One SoCal Gas worker died.
"We are incredibly saddened that we have a loss of one of our employees today," said SoCal Gas public information officer Randon Lane.
Firefighters fought flames for about two hours after the blast. The area was closed to residents, Murrieta Police reported.
