Centreville residents Kim Rogers and Cami Minks grabbed what they could Sunday evening as flames ripped through a neighbor’s house from a natural gas blast. Rogers captured the moment on her home surveillance camera. The shockwave rattled windows blocks away.

“We were evacuated on Sunday evening,” Rogers said. She packed up her family of six and headed straight for the Hyatt Place in Chantilly. Minks, her next-door neighbor, landed in a room down the hall, pup Pepper in tow.

“Everybody who has pets is here,” Minks said Friday, scratching Pepper’s ears. She brought a few days’ worth of dog food but planned to stock up soon. The hotel corridor buzzes with displaced families tending to dogs, cats and kids.

Food weighs heavy on their minds. Rogers laughed through her frustration. “I’m so done with restaurant food. I really just want to make something for myself.” Daily meals for six add up fast. “It’s just expensive,” she said. For now, the costs hit credit cards. Officials promised reimbursement once families submit invoices, though no one knows the timeline.

Washington Gas faces sharp questions from those forced out. “I’m wondering if they need to finesse some of their training,” Minks said. Rogers wants transparency. “Show me what you’ve done and make sure there are no leaks anywhere within our neighborhood.”

Crews combed the area through Friday without pinpointing the leak. The explosion injured two people, who have since left the hospital. Fairfax County fire officials confirmed natural gas fueled the blast at the home on Centreville’s west side.

A re-entry plan floats in discussions, but no firm return date exists. “I don’t see us going back anytime soon,” Rogers said. “I would like it to be that way. But I don’t think it’s going to be.”

Neighbors lean on each other amid the limbo. “Everybody, every time we see each other, it’s ‘Hi, how are you? Are you OK? Do you need anything?'” Minks said. They swap tips on pet-friendly spots and vent about the wait. The Hyatt, just minutes from their homes, feels worlds away from normal.

Washington Gas crews expanded searches into nearby streets Thursday, testing lines house by house. No additional leaks turned up so far, according to county updates. Fire marshals ruled the original blast accidental, sparked by gas migrating underground from an unknown breach.

Rogers tallies expenses: $200 nightly hotel rates, plus $100 daily on takeout. Minks worries about Pepper’s routine. Both praise Fairfax County’s emergency management for coordinating shelters and aid. Still, uncertainty gnaws. One family mentioned rumors of a weekslong probe if the source stays elusive.

Local officials urged residents to alerts on Fairfax County’s emergency site. Crews plan round-the-clock digs starting Saturday, weather permitting. The 21 displaced households represent about 60 people, including children and seniors.

In the hotel lobby Friday, Rogers spotted Minks and waved. They shared a quick hug. Displacement binds them closer. “We’re all in this together,” Minks said. They wait, watches ticking past day six.