Officials said a gas line strike before the blast forced evacuations and left at least 15 families displaced.
TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP, OH — A house exploded Thursday afternoon in a Twinsburg Township neighborhood after a gas line was struck, destroying three homes, damaging dozens of others and sending two people to hospitals, officials said.
The blast hit the Woodlands area near Hiram Lane after firefighters responded to a reported gas leak. Local officials first reported three homes destroyed and about 20 others damaged, while later damage counts rose to at least 36 homes. No deaths were reported, and officials said the injuries were limited despite the wide debris field.
Fire crews were called to the area around 3:20 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday after reports of a gas smell near Hiram Lane, Hiram Square and nearby streets. The Twinsburg Fire Department issued a shelter-in-place order while crews worked the leak and warned residents in the affected area to avoid sparks. The Summit County Sheriff’s Office said deputies responded to reports of an explosion at about 4:40 p.m. Officials said a contractor doing drilling work struck a natural gas line before the blast. Twinsburg Fire Chief Earl Wilson said firefighters, utility workers and investigators remained in the neighborhood Friday to secure the scene and determine the order of events.
The home where the explosion began and two neighboring houses were destroyed, officials said. The residents of the home that exploded were not there at the time. Fire spread after the blast, and firefighters moved to evacuate the area while battling flames. Two people were taken to hospitals, including one person treated for injuries from the blast and another for a medical issue, officials said. Both were later reported to have been treated and released. At least 15 families were displaced. Officials said 15 homes on Hiram Square and six houses on Fairlawn Road were among those affected, though the final damage count may change as inspections continue.
Enbridge Gas Ohio crews shut off gas to the affected neighborhood and made the area safe, the company said. The utility said its workers were called to a damaged pipeline on Hiram Lane and that the explosion happened shortly after. Crews remained at the scene Friday to repair the pipeline and work toward restoring service. Officials had not said when gas would be turned back on. The Ohio State Fire Marshal was assisting with the investigation. Wilson said the exact ignition source may never be known because many things can spark gas once it has collected in a neighborhood.
The explosion prompted a wider review of underground utility work in the area. The city of Twinsburg announced Friday that all boring, missiling, drilling and related underground utility operations had been paused. Hudson, Stow and Green also halted or postponed certain directional drilling operations after the explosion. Hudson officials said the Twinsburg Township blast did not happen in Hudson and was not caused by a city broadband crew, but the city stopped future directional drilling while waiting for more information about the cause. Officials said the step was meant to allow a safety review before work resumes.
Residents described a sudden blast that shook homes and scattered debris across the neighborhood. Some windows were blown out, and nearby houses had visible structural damage. One resident was knocked from a chair but was not injured, officials said. Wilson said the neighborhood would remain restricted while fire investigators, engineers, utility experts and public safety crews worked in the area. “We know this has been a difficult and emotional event for our community,” Wilson said, adding that officials were grateful there was no loss of life.
Access to the Hiram Lane area remained limited Friday as investigators preserved evidence and assessed damage. Officials said the next steps include utility repairs, structural checks, damage documentation and a review of drilling work tied to the gas line strike.
Author note: Last updated June 26, 2026.