Eight homes have been deemed unsafe to enter following a large explosion that left at least two injured women in the hospital four days after last week’s incident reduced one residence to rubble and damaged nearly two dozen others in Santa Maria. 

An 83-year-old woman who was inside the house that was destroyed by the blast remained in critical condition with burn injuries, city Public Information Manager Mark van de Kamp said. 

Another woman who was extricated from an adjacent home was in stable condition, van de Kamp added.

Neither woman’s name has been released by authorities.

Two other people also were injured, authorities said the day of the incident, but information on their conditions wasn’t available.

They were hurt during an explosion that demolished one residence and damaged 23 others at about 12:10 p.m. Aug. 23 on the 12oo block of Jackie Lane, in a neighborhood south of Marian Regional Medical Center. 

Investigators determined that the powerful blast was caused by an open natural gas outlet, according to the city fire marshal.

City crews identified multiple possible sources that might have been responsible for igniting the natural gas and sparking the explosion.

City Building Division officials issued red tags to eight homes in the Hancock Village condominium complex, meaning they are unsafe to enter and now have notices posted warning people to stay out. 

Other homes nearby had various levels of damage, according to the inspections after the explosion. 

On Monday, fencing blocked off the site of the demolished residence and red notices remained on all sides of the damage homes.

Some residences on Jackie Lane and Estes Drive had red tags hanging on garages near driveways, showing the extent of the damage. 

A flier around the quiet neighborhood’s entrances pleaded for information about a young black-and-white cat that has remained missing since the explosion.

Meanwhile, the Pioneer Valley High School Boosters Club rallied to quickly organize a fundraiser for three students who live with their grandmother in one of the damaged homes. 

For Friday night’s football game at the campus less than two miles away, the Boosters Club sold hamburgers, hotdogs and more to raise money for the family, and quickly sold out, according to a social media post.