FITCHBURG, Mass. (WHDH) -- An explosion at an auto parts shop in Fitchburg rocked neighboring homes and businesses Tuesday evening.

The explosion happened just after 5 p.m. at 219 Lunenburg Street.

"We were standing there talking and all of a sudden we heard a big boom,” said John Tate.

The store's owner, John Tate, was behind the counter helping out a customer when part of the store exploded.

"And that's when the ceiling started falling down on us and that’s when we ran out through the front door. The front door had already been blown out, so we just walked out,” Tate said.

The explosion blew the windows out of the house behind the store. The Red Cross is finding those residents a warm place to stay.

"All of a sudden a huge explosion, I was knocked down, she was knocked down and boom, that's it," said Gregory LeBlanc, who felt the explosion.

The windows to a business across the street were also almost blown out.

Gas has been turned off to the area and the gas company is checking for leaks.

A spokesperson says people living near the explosion have nothing to worry about.

"Right now the area has been made safe. We are working with first responders and will continue to work with them to make sure the area remains safe,” said Alec O’Meara, gas company spokesperson.

Emergency workers and the store owner are just glad no one was hurt.

"With one explosion you have to worry about a secondary explosion and thank God tonight we didn't have any," said Chief John Curran, Fitchburg Fire Department.

Fitchburg officials found the cause of the explosion to be a leak in the gas line outside of the building.