A family’s five-year-old dog miraculously survives home explosion in Haymarket, Virginia and gets rescued six days after the incident on Monday, October 21.
On October 15, the Prince William Professional Firefighters shared that they responded to a house explosion in Haymarket.
“Earlier in the afternoon, Engine 504 was called to an outside gas leak when an underground gas line was struck,” Prince William Professional Firefighters wrote.
According to them, their crew witnessed the residence “instantly disintegrating and the rubble pile catching fire” while they were trying to evacuate nearby homes and waiting for the gas company.
“Crews transmitted a working fire and went to work extinguishing the adjacent homes which also caught fire during the blast,” fire officials said.
Furthermore, the fire was reported to have escalated to a second alarm before the flames were completely distinguished.
InsideNoVa disclosed that the fire was started due to a contractor replacing a water line and cutting into the natural gas line.
“Natural gas is lighter than air and will travel through any possible avenue,” Prince William fire and rescue Assistant Chief Matt Smolsky explained. “At some point the gas reached an ignition source and the explosion occurred. There are multiple possible ignition sources that could have contributed to the event.”
DC News Now reveals that the home explosion displaced two families, which includes four adults and two children.
While grief still surrounds the affected families, a miracle happens to one of them – Megan Schnapp and her partner Joshua Jeffries’ dog survives the explosion and gets rescued six days after the incident.
Brandy, the family’s five-year-old rescue dog, was reportedly secured in a room upstairs when the home exploded.
Schnapp tells InsideNoVa, “There was a lot of grieving.”
However, Fauquier Now reveals that on the morning of October 21, an insurance investigator, along with Schnapp, were at the remains of the house, when they heard a dog barking under all the rubble.
The insurance investigator asked Schnapp if she has a dog, but said that her dog passed away.
However, the grieving owner later realized that the barking dog was indeed Brandy.
The Prince William Professional Firefighters shared their rescue of Brandy on Facebook saying, “This morning, crews from the 1st Battalion were called to the home that exploded several days ago in Haymarket for a dog barking from inside the rubble.”
“Truck4 worked diligently to free the pup from collapsed home, reuniting her with her family. After an incredible story of survival, the dog is expected to make a full recovery from incident.”
After getting rescued, Schnapp tells Fauquier Now that their pooch had minimal cuts and burns, but appears to be generally OK.
Schnapp and Jeffries thanked the community for the support they’ve been giving their family during this difficult time.
Schnapp said, “We are so thankful for Piedmont, Haymarket and beyond for everyone’s support. I’m so thankful no one was injured.”
“And now our family is complete again,” she added.