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Families are returning to a Centreville neighborhood less than two weeks after a gas leak caused a house on Quail Pond Court to explode. Among them is a new homeowner moving in within sight of the damaged property.
First-grade teacher Jenna Jensen arrived with a U-Haul at her new home on Buggy Whip Drive as orange cones and a “Road Closed Ahead” sign still restricted access nearby. She closed on the house Friday, Feb. 13.
Jensen learned about the explosion through a phone call from a coworker, who told her what had happened around the corner from her new home.
“It was definitely a moment of shock,” Jensen said.
The site of the explosion is visible from Jensen’s backyard. While she worried about the condition of a home she had not yet occupied, she said the safety of the community was also on her mind.
The resident of the house that exploded escaped through a window and suffered only minor injuries.
Washington Gas said Friday that service had been restored to the remaining 19 evacuated homes, allowing residents to return. Fairfax County fire officials planned to continue monitoring gas readings in the neighborhood for another 48 hours.
Jensen said she has met only a few neighbors so far and hopes the community can move forward and get acquainted under better circumstances.
Her parents traveled five hours from West Virginia’s northern panhandle to help her move. Jensen also praised the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department and other county officials, saying they checked her home three times and kept her informed.
“The communication has been amazing, and it’s been nice to have their support,” Jensen said.