The shell of a home still smolders near the center of the massive fireball from Tuesday's gas explosion in Sissonville, while melted metal from a car in front of the house runs down the hill.

Seen from Interstate 77, this gas transmission line burst into flames at about 1 p.m. Tuesday, leaving a large crater and destroying four homes.

Officials for the National Transportation and Safety Board huddle in the cold Wednesday morning near the site of the explosion and fire. NTSB officials are trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

Both north and southbound lanes of Interstate 77, which were enveloped by flames during the blaze, reopened Wednesday after a frantic overnight effort by paving crews to repair the damaged section of interstate.

Flames fill the sky from a gas line explosion across Interstate 77 near Sissonville, W.Va., Tuesday.