Family forced from home after ruptured gas line sparks fire

MATTHEWS, N.C. — The family whose home was destroyed in Wednesday’s gas‑line explosion in Matthews says they’ve had a roller‑coaster of a day, still searching for answers, but grateful for small moments of relief.

Francisco Espinosa walked Channel 9 through what’s left of their home on Morningwood Drive, just one day after a contractor struck a natural gas line and triggered a massive fire outside the house.

Surveillance video captured the moment the gas ignited, sending flames shooting into the air.

The blast blew out windows, destroyed electronics, soaked clothing, and damaged the home’s electrical system. The house has now been deemed unlivable.

Espinosa said he was at work when the fire started and could only watch from a distance.

“I was really, really scared… I have never seen something like that. Never.”

But his biggest fear wasn’t for the house.

“I was very worried for my animals. The house is materials — we can recover. But my animals ...”

When the family was finally allowed back inside, their dog Cookie and cat Aguero were missing.

But today, they found both Cookie in the woods behind the home and Aguero hiding under a car. The pets are still shaken, but safe.

The family of four — a mother, her two sons, and her daughter — is now staying with friends.

They were given a Client Assistance Card provided by the Red Cross on Wednesday night.

Those are preloaded, reloadable debit cards that can be used for immediate, essential needs such as food, clothing, gas, or lodging. The cards are accepted anywhere Mastercard is accepted.

The family said they couldn’t find a pet‑friendly hotel.

“Yeah… we’re looking for help,” Espinosa said.

The family has established a GoFundMe for those who wish to assist them.

Matthews Fire officials say a Pike Electric crew hit the gas line while drilling to install new power poles.

Channel 9 reached out to Pike to ask whether the company is investigating. We are still waiting to hear back.

We also contacted Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas. Both companies said:

No customers lost gas service
Repairs to the pipeline should be completed Thursday night
Any decisions about compensation for homeowners will come after the investigation into the cause of the fire is finished

The Espinosa family is now trying to figure out their next steps while they wait for answers.

Action 9: What to do if a utility company damages your property:

First step, contact your own renters or homeowners’ insurance, even if it wasn’t your fault.

You should do that because they can walk you through the process and get emergency arrangements rolling.

If it’s someone else’s fault, they’ll either tell you what to do differently or go after the insurance company that covers the party who was to blame in a subrogation.

If you end up filing a claim with the other party’s insurance directly, that may take some legwork.

Chances are, your insurance will take care of you in the short-term.

In the long-term, you could end up being a party in a lawsuit against the contractor or whoever hired them, typically for negligence.

What does that mean for you?

Keep good records, photos, videos, and receipts.

If you must pay because of the situation, document it.

Don’t assume anything is too small.

0 of 7