© South Kitsap Fire and RescueSouth Kitsap Fire and Rescue confirms the explosion happened at a residential structure. The building was leveled.
Officials told CBS affiliate KIRO-TV in Seattle the explosion occurred in a residence in Port Orchard shortly after 4 a.m.
It is not known if anyone was home during the blast.
Officials said the home was leveled by the blast, and the fire has been contained. The cause of the explosion is unclear.
An elementary school several hundreds yards away saw many of its windows shattered.
Several nearby residents told KIRO they initially thought it was an earthquake. One resident told KIRO that officers at Naval Base Kitsap in nearby Bremerton across the inlet from Port Orchard sent officers searching the base for the source until they realized what had happened.
"The sky was red. Huge flames. Nothing is standing on this property. It was completely leveled." - witness #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/vsX6UxThJ7
โ Alexandra Lewis (@AlexLewisTV) February 23, 2016
Massive house explosion near Port Orchard felt miles away. Shattered windows at Elem. school nearby. pic.twitter.com/PBUxgM3OXv
โ Jeff Dubois (@JeffKIRO7) February 23, 2016
" It felt like a sonic boom!' - Tracy Griffin, lives a mile a away from home explosion in Port Orchard #Q13FOX pic.twitter.com/eJSwzJNa4c
โ Alexandra Lewis (@AlexLewisTV) February 23, 2016
Could it be possible that a sinkhole opened up under this home and caused the gas pipes to rupture? If that were the case, it would take a very small spark or flame to cause an explosion of this nature.