Residents who live near a Caldwell County pipeline that ruptured Thursday morning, sending flames soaring into the sky, began returning to their homes Thursday evening.

It happened at the Luling gas plant in Prairie Lea, 40 miles south of Austin.

"I'm just thankful that everyone was out O.K. Everyone got out of the neighborhood quick enough," said Jesse Garcia, heard the explosion.

All are thankful there were no injuries, but some are questioning where they chose to raise a family.

"We never thought it would happen, but it's been a concern," Kristina White said.

Kristina White, her husband and three children live in a house that's half a mile from the Luling Natural Gas Plant. The early morning explosion shook her house.

"Massive, huge flames. My husband went outside and he told us to get dressed and get in the car, we're leaving," White said.

"We had flames 300 to 400 feet in the air. The heat was felt up to at least a half a mile away," said Chuck Custshall, assistant fire chief for the McMahan Fire Department.

People also felt the ground shake.

"I felt a shake on my bed," said Marisa Pastrano lives by the plant.

Plant representatives are still investigating what caused the explosion. The line was used to pump gas from West Texas to the Houston area.

"I just hope it doesn't happen again," Pastrano said.

"I don't think there's anywhere you can run to. [The gas lines] are everywhere so you have to live and let live. You can't live with fear," Katie Green said.

The Prairie Lea School District had just begun their school day when the explosion occurred. The schools were on lockdown for one hour.

The plant is owned by Energy Transfer Partners, which pumps natural gas throughout Texas and beyond.