Tech | September 10, 2010 | 48 comments

7 Killed, 6 Missing, 53 Homes Destroyed In California Gas Explosion | Videos | Photos | New Updates

source: http://current.com/news/92659090_huge-explosion-in-san-bruno-ca.htm

EthicalVegan
Blaze engulfs dozens of homes in California neighborhood
By the CNN Wire Staff
September 10, 2010 4:35 a.m. EDT

[This is the original submission. Please see updates further down.]



San Bruno, California (CNN) -- Firefighters were still battling a deadly gas-fueled blaze Friday that engulfed dozens of homes and sent fireballs shooting into the air in this neighborhood near the San Francisco airport, emergency management officials said.

At least one person died in the fire, Kelly Huston of California Emergency Management said.

Local hospitals reported Thursday night that at least 28 people were being treated for injuries from the fire, some with critical burn injuries. The number of dead and injured was "likely to climb," Huston said.

At least 53 homes were severely damaged and up to 120 homes have some damage from the fast-moving fire, San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag told reporters.

The fire was about 50 percent contained four hours after it began, he said. But the persistent flames had kept crews from searching the area for victims.

Firefighters had not yet been able to access the high-pressure gas line that appeared to be the source of an explosion that proceeded the blaze, he said.

City officials said they were trying to account for residents in the area. Haag said about 100 had evacuated to shelters.

"A terrible, terrible tragedy has fallen on our city this afternoon," San Bruno Mayor Jim Ruane said.

People as far as a half-mile away said they felt the boom and heat of the blast, KGO reported.

iReport: Ground level view of fire

"I was standing next to a police officer who'd been in Baghdad and he said he had never seen anything quite so bad as this," John Hampton, a freelance photographer who witnessed the fire, told CNN affiliate KGO. "It looks as if this area was fire-bombed."

San Bruno resident Tim Gutierrez, who lives in a neighborhood near where the blast occurred, told CNN affiliate KRON that people living in the area have smelled natural gas for the past three weeks.


"Every day after work, I would smell the heavy smell coming from the gutter and sewer," he said.

When asked about that account Thursday night, Haag told reporters it was "the first time the fire department's ever had any notice of it."

Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman Jeff Smith said it was too early to tell what caused the blast, and declined to comment on any posibility of gas smells proceeding the blast.

"At this time we don't want to speculate on comments such as that. However, if it's determined that PG&E was responsible, we will take accountability," he said.

California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County.

Windy weather and water supply problems have complicated efforts to combat the flames.

iReport: Lone fireman fights flames

Water pressure in the area was low because the fire compromised a water main, California State Sen. Leland Yee told CNN affiliate KRON, so firefighters had to truck in water.

"It's going to be a long, long fight on this one. Mainly it's a tough terrain up there," he said.

Sergio Campos, 21, said he was on his way to class at Skyline College when he saw the fire and pulled over. Even from a distance, the blaze "sounded like a big, ongoing roar," he said.

"A lot of us were confused because we didn't know if it was a natural explosion or an airplane crash," he told CNN's iReport.

A "major gas line explosion" occurred at 6:15 p.m. (9:15 p.m. ET) and "immediately erupted into fire," San Bruno city spokeswoman Dena Gunning said.

Authorities are worried about winds that could spread the fire and embers that are falling on adjacent houses, Huston said. Helicopters were dropping retardant on homes to try to stop the fire's spread.

iReport: Another view of the fire

Two evacuation centers have been set up and at least 100 people are being cared for at one of the locations, Melanie Finke of the San Francisco Red Cross said.

Church of Highlands Staff Pastor Leigh Bishop told CNN he witnessed a "devastating explosion" that caused the fast-moving fire.

Bishop said two people from his church had lost their homes and at least one person had burn injuries.

California's state fire department was sending 25 fire engines to the area to help battle the blaze at the request of the local fire department, spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

The fire is in a populated area about two miles west of San Francisco International Airport, Huston said.

All flights and operations there were normal Thursday evening, airport spokesman Michael Brown said.

At least 5,000 customers were without electricity, KGO reported.

CNN's Catherine E. Shoichet, Dan Simon, Ninette Sosa, Shawn Nottingham, Anderson Cooper, Karan Olson, Sonya Hamasaki, Deanna Proeller, Greg Morrison, Scott Thompson and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.
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48 comments // 7 Killed, 6 Missing, 53 Homes Destroyed In California Gas Explosion | Videos | Photos | New Updates

  • EthicalVegan
  • Eddie_Miller
  • im1mjrpain
  • Eddie_Miller
  • im1mjrpain
    • 0
      im1mjrpain  
    • Eddie_Miller:

      Gas leaks don't just explode because gas is leaking Eddie. Something has to ignite the gas. Come one man.... do I really have to explain this to you bro?

      Yes I read the article which clearly says the following...

      Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman Jeff Smith said it was too early to tell what caused the blast, and declined to comment on any posibility of gas smells proceeding the blast.

      "At this time we don't want to speculate on comments such as that. However, if it's determined that PG&E was responsible, we will take accountability," he said.

      Now it's your turn.... did you read the article?

    • 2 years ago
  • Eddie_Miller
  • ThresholdBroken
  • EthicalVegan
  • Aristaeus
  • DogBoy
  • EthicalVegan
  • DogBoy
  • Eddie_Miller
  • EthicalVegan
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    • California fire: 'It looks like a bomb went off'

      http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/10/california.fire/index.html?hpt=T1

      CNN UPDATE ||| September 10, 2010 8:07 a.m. EDT

      Blaze engulfs dozens of homes in California neighborhood
      By the CNN Wire Staff

      Read more about this story from CNN affiliate KGO. Share your photos and videos on iReport

      San Bruno, California (CNN) -- Firefighters were still battling a deadly gas-fueled blaze Friday that engulfed dozens of homes and sent fireballs shooting into the air in a neighborhood near the San Francisco airport, emergency management officials said.

      Gloria Serrano said late Thursday that she hadn't been able to reach her elderly parents, who live in the area.

      "I try to call, and it's like a busy signal, and the answering machine doesn't go on," she said.

      At least three people died in the fire, Dena Gunning of the San Bruno Fire Department said Friday morning.

      Local hospitals reported Thursday night that at least 28 people were being treated for injuries from the fire, some with critical burn injuries. The number of dead and injured was "likely to climb," Huston said.

      Video: Witnesses report smell of gas
      Video: Photographer describes fire scene
      Video: Firefighters battle San Bruno blaze
      Video: Large explosion in San Bruno

      A Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman said Friday that PG&E's gas transmission line ruptured, leading to the blaze.

      The cause of the rupture was still under investigation, spokesman Blair Jones said.

      "Our focus right now is making the area safe," Jones said.

      At least 53 homes were severely damaged and up to 120 homes have some damage from the fast-moving fire, San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag told reporters.

      "It looks like a bomb went off, " California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado said Friday morning. "I saw debris everywhere . It was a huge explosion. I am shocked. This is a horrible tragedy that hit San Bruno."

      The fire was about 50 percent contained four hours after it began, he said. But the persistent flames had kept crews from searching the area for victims.

      iReport: Video and photos of the fire

      Firefighters had not yet been able to access the high-pressure gas line that appeared to be the source of an explosion that preceded the blaze, he said.

      City officials said they were trying to account for residents in the area. Haag said about 100 had evacuated to shelters.

      San Bruno Mayor James Ruane said he assured survivors of the blaze that the city would help them. He said he could tell how much the incident affected them.

      "It was the look on their faces. They were still in shock," Ruane said. "They were walking around but almost in a daze. It must have been horrific when it happened."

      Judy Serresseque, who evacuated with her husband after the blast, said it felt like an earthquake.

      "The whole house shook, and I got up...and my living room filled with an orange glow. And when I went to my front door, I looked out and everything was just flames," said Judy Serresseque, who evacuated with her husband after the blast.

      "The heat was intense, and you could hear it, you could hear the hiss," she said.

      iReport: Ground level view of fire

      Bob Hensel said he had to open his garage door manually to escape the flames. The bumper of his wife's car melted as he drove away.

      Video: Blast levels neighborhood
      Video: Gas explosion levels neighborhood
      Video: Concern for neighbors in fire zone

      He left without his two cats, who hid as the "big rumbling sound" escalated.

      "I looked as long as I could," he said.

      The explosion sent concrete flying, and the heat from the flames melted tail lights on cars blocks away from the blaze.

      "I was standing next to a police officer who'd been in Baghdad and he said he had never seen anything quite so bad as this," John Hampton, a freelance photographer who witnessed the fire, told CNN affiliate KGO. "It looks as if this area was firebombed."

      San Bruno resident Tim Gutierrez, who lives in a neighborhood near where the blast occurred, told CNN affiliate KRON that people living in the area have smelled natural gas for the past three weeks.

      "Every day after work, I would smell the heavy smell coming from the gutter and sewer," he said.

      When asked about that account Thursday night, Haag told reporters it was "the first time the fire department's ever had any notice of it."

      Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman Jeff Smith said it was too early to tell what caused the blast, and declined to comment on any possibility of gas smells preceding the blast.

      "At this time we don't want to speculate on comments such as that. However, if it's determined that PG&E was responsible, we will take accountability," he said.

      Maldonado declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County and said in a statement that state authorities were investigating what caused the explosion, which "endangered too many lives."

      Gas pipes near homes, windy weather and water supply problems have complicated efforts to combat the flames.

      "The radiant heat from the actual gas and the fireball was making it so that they couldn't even attack the homes that were on fire," said news photographer Bryan Carmody, who arrived at the scene shortly after the blaze began.

      iReport: Lone fireman fights flames

      Water pressure in the area was low because the fire compromised a water main, California State Sen. Leland Yee told CNN affiliate KRON, so firefighters had to truck in water.

      "It's going to be a long, long fight on this one. Mainly it's a tough terrain up there," he said.

      Sergio Campos, 21, said he was on his way to class at Skyline College when he saw the fire and pulled over. Even from a distance, the blaze "sounded like a big, ongoing roar," he said.

      "A lot of us were confused because we didn't know if it was a natural explosion or an airplane crash," he told CNN's iReport.

      A "major gas line explosion" occurred at 6:15 p.m. (9:15 p.m. ET) and "immediately erupted into fire," San Bruno city spokeswoman Dena Gunning said.

      Authorities are worried about winds that could spread the fire and embers that are falling on adjacent houses, Huston said. Helicopters were dropping retardant on homes to try to stop the fire's spread.

      Two evacuation centers have been set up and at least 100 people are being cared for at one of the locations, Melanie Finke of the San Francisco Red Cross said.

      Church of Highlands Staff Pastor Leigh Bishop told CNN he witnessed a "devastating explosion" that caused the fast-moving fire.

      Bishop said two people from his church had lost their homes and at least one person had burn injuries.

      California's state fire department was sending 25 fire engines to the area to help battle the blaze at the request of the local fire department, spokesman Daniel Berlant said.

      The fire is in a populated area about two miles west of San Francisco International Airport, Huston said.

      Smoke was causing flight delays of about an hour Friday morning.

      At least 5,000 customers were without electricity, KGO reported.

      CNN's Dan Simon, Catherine E. Shoichet, Ninette Sosa, Shawn Nottingham, Anderson Cooper, Karan Olson, Sonya Hamasaki, Deanna Proeller, Greg Morrison, Scott Thompson and Amanda Watts contributed to this report.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
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    • EthicalVegan:

      http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39089768/ns/us_news/

      Report: Huge California gas blast, fire kill at least 6

      Dozens of homes destroyed as fireball spreads through San Francisco suburb

      Deadly Blaze Destroys California Community

      updated 55 minutes ago

      SAN BRUNO, Calif. — A massive explosion sent flames roaring through a neighborhood in the hills south of San Francisco on Thursday night, destroying more than 50 homes, leaving three dead and injuring dozens.

      The explosion shot a fireball more than 1,000 feet in the air and sent frightened residents fleeing for safety and rushing to get belongings out of burning homes.

      Flames hot enough to crack a fire engine windshield incinerated homes and damaged 120 others as crews continued battling the blaze into the night.

      "Firefighters are working to keep the area from spreading to other homes in the area, search and rescue efforts are needed but the fire danger is too high to attempt S&R at this time," said a statement from San Bruno city officials obtained by NBC News.

      The fire has killed three people, and search and recovery assessments are set to begin at 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. EDT), a City of San Bruno spokeswoman told NBC News.

      A 15-foot-deep crater about 30 feet long and 20 feet wide was left near Claremont and Glenview drives and Earl Avenue, KGO-TV said. Homes on both sides of the street were leveled, it said.

      Connie Bushman returned home to find her block was on fire. She said she ran into her house looking for her 80-year-old father but could not find him. A firefighter told her he had left, but she had not been able to track him down.

      "I don't know where my father is, I don't know where my husband is, I don't know where to go," Bushman told The Associated Press.

      An official number of people hurt or unaccounted for wasn't immediately available, although the fire dispatch officials said at least 75 had been injured, according to the San Francisco Examiner.

      Nineteen patients came to the South San Francisco Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente spokesman Karl Sonkin told msnbc.com. Of those, staff almost immediately transferred four to St. Francis Hospital's burn unit and sent another to Kaiser Permanente's San Francisco hospital for evaluation of a possible heart attack.

      Emergency room personnel treated and released eight others, Sonkin said; one additional patient was still undergoing treatment overnight, but is also expected to be released. The ER also treated four firefighters who walked into the hospital with symptoms of smoke inhalation.

      A spokeswoman for St. Francis Memorial Hospital, which operates a major burn center in the area, could not immediately be reached overnight.

      Firefighters from San Bruno and surrounding cities battled the blaze, which started on a hillside near Interstates 280 and 380, Skyline Boulevard and Sneath Lane in San Bruno. The area is a few miles west of San Francisco International Airport.

      Lieutenant Gov. Abel Maldonado declared a state of emergency in the area and will visit the area Friday afternoon. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is out of the country on a trade mission to Asia.

      The local fire department said a high-pressure line caused the blast, NBC's KNTV reported on its website.

      Pacific Gas and Electric Co, which serves the San Francisco Bay area, said one of its gas lines ruptured in the vicinity of the blast, which left a giant crater and sent flames tearing across several suburban blocks in San Bruno just after 6 p.m.

      "If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability," the company said in an e-mailed statement.

      After the blast, flames reached as high as 100 feet as the fire fueled itself on burning homes. Between 150 and 200 firefighters were at the scene, San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag said. Planes and helicopters flew over the neighborhood dumping water.

      Officials said crews could not initially get close to the ruptured gas line because they had to wait for the utility company to cut its supply. Haag added that more than 100 people were being sheltered at nearby evacuation centers.

      Fire officials planned to convene at the scene at 6:00 a.m. PT (9 a.m. EDT) to begin a formal damage assessment, the statement from city officials obtained by NBC News said.

      More than 200 law enforcement officers were directing traffic and providing perimeter security, as major roads in the area remain closed, the statement said.

      It also noted that San Bruno Park School District will remain closed Friday.

      While the blast knocked out a water main, NBC news reported that officials said its effect was negligible.

      San Bruno Fire Capt. Charlie Barringer, however, said the neighborhood was engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, even though the fire station was only a few blocks away. He said the blast took out the entire water system, forcing firefighters to pump water from more than two miles away.

      Marla Shelmadine, who lives on 1131 Fairmont Drive, told NBC the explosions came down her street, destroying one house at a time in quick succession. She said she got out of her house with her pets, and did not know if her home was destroyed or not.

      Omar Naber and his mother, Lana Naber, told the Chronicle they were in their home when the house shook violently.

      "I thought it was the biggest earthquake ever," he told the paper.

      Naber told the Chronicle how he ran to his door and tried to open it, but the handle burned his hand. He then fled the house with his mother and as they ran to their car they could see the fireball. The intense heat burned hair off his arms, Naber said.

      Other neighbors told NBC they saw the street rip apart and ran for their lives from a huge wall of flames, with oneman describing how he jumped into his car and drove through the blaze.

      The man, who was not identified, told NBC the explosion was followed by a hail of asphalt falling from the sky. His bumper was fried by the time he got to safety, but he was safe.

      The Associated Press contributed to this report.

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
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    • EthicalVegan:

      http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2010/09/san_bruno_fireball_leaves_ma...

      San Bruno fireball leaves many questions

      Friday, September 10, 2010, 5:50am PDT

      Bay Area residents and officials urgently looked for answers as light dawned Friday morning on the terrible scene of a sudden dinner hour explosion and fireball that destroyed a neighborhood in San Bruno on Thursday.

      Eyewitness reports from fleeing residents and firefighters combating a tower of flame from the air and on foot have many in the region asking how it happened and wondering what they would have done in such terrifying circumstances.

      Fire officials at dawn reported six dead and dozens more injured but cautioned that more victims could be found as crews combed the neighborhood where more than 50 homes were destroyed and many more were damaged.

      Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said one of its gas lines ruptured near the blast which left a gaping crater in the San Mateo County community .

      "If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability," the company said.

      Read more: San Bruno fireball leaves many questions - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal

    • 2 years ago
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    • EthicalVegan:

      http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-09-10/san-francisco-neighborhood-engulfed-by-...

      Bloomberg...

      Gas Explosion Engulfs Homes in San Francisco Suburb; Six Killed
      By Jeran Wittenstein and Lisa Wolfson - Sep 10, 2010 5:29 AM PT

      Gas Explosion Engulfs Homes in San Francisco Suburb

      Fire trucks gathered on the perimeter of the fire zone, and firefighters went house to house dousing engulfed structures with water. Photographer: Max Whittaker/Getty Images

      Gas Explosion Engulfs Homes in San Bruno

      A law enforcement official runs towards a fire in a San Bruno residential neighborhood. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
      Flames and smoke rise from a fire in San Bruno

      Flames and smoke rise from a fire in a residential neighborhood in San Bruno. Photographer: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

      A natural-gas explosion tore through the San Francisco suburb of San Bruno yesterday, igniting a fire that destroyed dozens of homes. The fire killed six people, the Los Angeles Times said, citing San Bruno officials.

      The explosion occurred when a gas line operated by PG&E Corp. ruptured, according to a statement from the publicly traded utility that serves the Bay Area. The cause of the blaze hasn’t been determined, San Francisco-based PG&E said.

      “If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability,” PG&E said in the statement.

      Fifty-three homes were destroyed and 120 were damaged after a fireball rose more than 100 feet from the site of the blast, said Dennis Haag, the San Bruno fire chief. At least five people were seriously injured and more than 18 were treated for minor injuries at area hospitals, spokesmen said. Authorities won’t know the final death tally until the fire department conducts a thorough search today, Haag said.

      The California Public Utilities Commission is investigating the cause of the explosion and fire and has an investigator at the scene gathering evidence, the agency said in a statement. The commission will “gather all relevant information about the incident and obtain information from PG&E,” it said.

      ‘Terrible Tragedy’

      “A terrible, terrible tragedy has fallen on our city,” said Jim Ruane, mayor of San Bruno. “This is going to be a long haul.”

      As of 2 a.m. eastern, the fire was about 50 percent contained, Haag said. Authorities expected to bring the blaze under control and begin the search for any additional casualties, he said. The suburb of San Bruno is near San Francisco International Airport.

      “It started as a rumbling and then the flames came,” Bob Pellegrini, a 48-year old San Bruno resident, said at the Bayhill Shopping Center parking lot where more than 100 hundred people evacuated to. “Then smoke came into the house and the intense heat started burning the wood. Every car on the street was burned. We ran out back, out the side gates and down the street behind us.”

      California declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County, according to an e-mailed statement from Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado.

      Critical Condition

      Three victims were taken to Seton Medical Center in Daly City. One was transferred to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital burn center in San Francisco with severe burns, said Elizabeth Nickels, a spokeswoman for Seton hospital. The two others were treated and released.

      Two people with burns were in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital, spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said in a telephone interview.

      Saint Francis Memorial Hospital was treating three fire victims, according to Theresa Edison, a spokeswoman for the hospital. Two were in a critical condition and one was stable, Edison said.

      Mills Peninsula Medical Center in Burlingame received 16 patients, all with minor injuries, said Jane Schulze, a spokeswoman for the hospital.

      “The major fire in San Bruno, apparently caused by a ruptured gas main, is not having any direct impact on operations at San Francisco International Airport,” airport spokesman Michael McCarron said in an e-mail. All airport traffic arrived and departed normally, he said.

      The FAA dedicated a controller in the airport’s air traffic control tower to handle aircraft involved with aerial firefighting and rescue operations.

      The San Francisco Fire Department Airport Division at SFO dispatched three units to the scene as part of a county-wide mutual aid request, McCarron said.

      “I saw a row of eucalyptus trees light up in front of me,” said Joseph Sperske, a 29 year-old student at San Francisco State University, who was in his car about 125 feet away from the fire. “Those houses had no chance.”

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • +1
      EthicalVegan  

    • 6:20AM ET...

      Just hearing that California's acting governor (Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado) has declared a state of emergency. He's also stating on CNN, live, that he feels that, after daybreak, there may be bodies found in the rubble.

    • 2 years ago
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    • http://cbs5.com/breakingnewsalerts/san.bruno.explosion.2.1905322.html

      Sep 10, 2010 12:35 am US/Pacific
      SAN BRUNO FIRE KILLS AT LEAST 3, DESTROYS 53 HOMES

      San Bruno Emergency Hotline: 650-616-7180
      To Donate Blood: 888-393-GIVE
      Red Cross Shelter Info: 888-443-5722

      SAN BRUNO (CBS 5 / KCBS / AP / BCN) ―

      Explosion Rocks San Bruno Neighborhood

      A massive six-alarm fire burned out of control, incinerating dozens of homes and killing at least three people, as it roared through a mostly residential neighborhood in the hills of San Bruno following a loud gas explosion that shot a fireball more than 1,000 feet into the air on Thursday evening.

      "We have at least one fatality," San Mateo County coroner Robert Foucrault said initially, although firefighters later told KCBS radio they had found two additional deceased victims in a burned out home; hospitals reported that more than 20 people suffered burn injuries.

      Local authorities declared a state of emergency after indicating that the blast, which left a giant crater and sent flames tearing across several blocks, destroyed 53 homes and damaged 120 others in the neighborhood near Skyline Boulevard and San Bruno Avenue, close to Interstate 280.

      San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag said it would take fire crews until at least Friday afternoon to do a full search of all the homes for more possible victims of the blaze. Between 150 and 200 firefighters were at the scene, he said.

      Haag told CBS 5 that a natural gas line explosion likely caused the deadly blast that sent flames tearing through the neighborhood at 6:14 p.m.

      "We believe it's a high-pressure gas line that's blown," Haag said, indicating that firefighters initially had trouble getting close enough to the ruptured gas line to shut it down because of the flames.

      Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said in a statement that the ruptured gas transmission line was theirs, although they added that the cause of the blast - under investigation by the California Public Utilities Commission - had yet to be officially determined.

      "Our thoughts are with the many families that have suffered losses, injuries, and displacement," commission director Paul Clanon said. "Our trained experts will get to the root cause of the explosion and fire."

      As of late Thursday night, authorities said the huge fire had grown to 10 acres and was only 50 percent contained. Witnesses said the blaze was preceded by a loud explosion and huge fireball.

      PG&E president Chris Johns said his company would "fully cooperate" with the investigation and explore unconfirmed witness reports of the smell of gas in the area before the explosion.

      "It's a tragic event, and we really want to make sure that we can make this area safe right now," Johns said.

      Some residents originally believed a plane had crashed due to the sound and force of the explosion, as well as their close proximity to San Francisco International Airport, but the Federal Aviation Administration said that no aircraft had gone down.

      Jane Porcelli, 62, who lives on the hill above where the fire is centered, said she thought she heard a plane overhead with a struggling engine.

      "And then you heard this bang. And everything shook except the floor, so we knew it wasn't an earthquake," Porcelli said. "I feel helpless that I can't do anything. I just gotta sit by and watch."
      Victims suffering from serious burns began arriving at Bay Area hospitals shortly after the blast. The number of injured was estimated at 27, with hospital spokespeople saying seven victims were in critical condition.

      Four victims were taken to the Saint Francis Memorial Hospital's Bothin Burn Center in San Francisco and all were listed in critical condition. At San Francisco General Hospital, five patients were admitted - three of whom were in critical condition.

      Although the majority of the burn patients appeared to have been taken to the Kaiser Permanente's South San Francisco Medical Center, personnel at Seton Medical Center in Daly City and Mills Health Center in San Mateo also reported treating some minor burn victims.

      Immediately following the blast, live video images from Chopper 5 showed more than a dozen homes destroyed -- with flames reaching as high as 100 feet in the air as the fire fueled itself on the burning homes.

      San Bruno Fire Capt. Charlie Barringer said the neighborhood near the corner of Crestmoore Avenue and Trenton Drive was engulfed by the time firefighters arrived, even though the fire station was only a few blocks away. He said the blast took out the entire water system, forcing firefighters to pump water from more than two miles away.

      Planes and helicopters flew over the area dumping water in an effort to stanch the flames. Power was out in the middle-class neighborhood of 1960s-era homes as the aircraft flew overhead.

      A giant plume of smoke could be seen coming over the hill from the north side and heading down the Peninsula for as far as the eye could see.

      Witnesses described seeing residents fleeing for safety and rushing to get belongings out of their burning homes. Fire officials later said more than 100 residents were being cared for at nearby evacuation centers.

      Traffic merging onto Interstate Highway 280 from the neighborhood was almost at a stand-still Thursday night as residents loaded cars with pets and carrying cases and tried to leave the area.

      Connie Bushman returned home to find her block was on fire. She said she ran into her house looking for her 80-year-old father but could not find him. A firefighter told her he had left, but she had not been able to track him down.

      "I don't know where my father is, I don't know where my husband is, I don't know where to go," Bushman said.

      Judy and Frank Serrsseque were walking down a hill away from the flames with a makeshift wagon carrying important documents, medication and three cats.

      Judy Serrsseque said she heard an explosion, saw that fire was headed toward their home and knew they had to leave. As they fled, they said they saw people burned and people struggling to get their things out of burning houses.

      "We got everything together, and we just got out," Judy Serrsseque. "Mostly we're wondering if we have a house to go back to."

      Stephanie Mullen was attending children's soccer practice with her two children and husband at Crestmoor High School when she saw the blast.

      "First, it was a low deep roar and everybody looked up, and we all knew something big was happening," she said. "Then there was a huge explosion with a ball of fire that went up behind the high school several thousand feet into the sky."

      "Everybody grabbed their children and ran and put their children in their cars," Mullen continued. "It was very clear something awful had happened."
      Several minutes later, Mullen - who works as an Associated Press photographer - was three or four blocks away from the fire scene and said she could feel the heat of the blaze on her face.

      "I could see families in the backyards of the homes next to where the fire was, bundling their children and trying to get them out of the backyards," she recounted.

      She said people in the neighborhood were yelling, "This is awful," ''I live down there," and "My family is down there."

    • 2 years ago
  • EthicalVegan
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      http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/Huge-Explosion-Rocks-San-Bruno-1025...

      Huge Explosion and Fire Rocks San Bruno
      An entire neighborhood in San Bruno is on fire.

      By LORI PREUITT

      Updated 1:05 AM PDT, Fri, Sep 10, 2010

      A huge PG&E gas line explosion and fire rocked San Bruno Thursday night igniting dozens of homes in an instant.

      Emergency officials said 53 homes were destroyed and another 120 were damaged in the massive fire south of San Francisco. The area damaged by the fires and explosion spread across 10 acres. Fire crews said in a late night briefing that thought they had the fire contained. They said it would be late Friday before they could make a complete search of the fire zone as they search for possible victims.

      Aerial video showed an entire block of homes on fire in the first minutes following the explosion. There was a huge fireball in the center of the neighborhood for nearly two hours following the initial blast. Cars parked on the street were also destroyed and trees and brush burned.

      The San Mateo County Coroner said that one person died in the fire. Many more people suffered burn wounds and smoke inhalation. The most critical were taken to the premier burn center in the Bay Area which is St. Francis in San Francisco. The exact number was not released Thursday, but it was at least six people.

      City Officials Talk About PG&E Gas Explosion

      Marla Shelmadine, who lives on 1131 Fairmont Drive, said the blast escalated down her street, destroying one house at a time in quick succession. She said she got out of her house with her two cars and her pets, and did not know if her home was destroyed or not.

      Other neighbors said they saw the street rip apart and ran for their lives from a huge wall of flames. One man jumped into his car and drove through the flames. He said the explosion was followed by a hail of asphalt falling from the sky. His bumper was fried by the time he got to safety, but he was safe.

      PG&E issued a statement late Thursday that confirmed it was one of their lines that ruptured. The statement read, "If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability." PG&E said their thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by this "terrible situation."

      The San Bruno fire chief said the explosion was caused by a high-pressure line. He said his No. 1 priority was to stop the fuel supply. At 7:41 p.m. he said they hoped to have the line capped in 30 minutes. Pictures from the scene appeared to show the line had been capped by 8 p.m.

      Some of the homes were completely gone, down to their foundation. This happened near Skyline Boulevard and San Bruno Avenue. People who were home at the time appeared to have no warning.

      Smoke from the fire traveled miles away. One person in Sunnyvale said he could smell the fire at his business by 8 p.m.

      Emergency crews set up a staging area in the parking lot of a nearby Lunardi's supermarket. Dozens of homes were in the area of the fire and hundreds of people were forced to evacuate.
      View more news videos at: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video.

      Before the fire department identified the gas line as a culprit, witnesses speculated that the chaos may have been attributed to a plane crash.

      The fire burned without any signs of stopping for the first full hour after the explosion. There was clearly something that was fueling the huge fireball in the San Bruno neighborhood.

      The fire could be seen from NBC Bay Area's helicopter from miles away, and people on the ground said the flames are 100 feet in the air.

      The fire is located just north of San Francisco International Airport. Here is a Google map of the exact location.

      An NBC Bay Area photographer who was near the scene said sounds similar to those of a jet engine could be heard for several minutes following the explosion. Another person who was about a half mile away said she could hear the roar of the fire or something that was fueling it from her balcony.

      Other people near the explosion said they thought it was an earthquake.

      Even after the gas line was capped, there were several spot fires of homes, cars and other debris burning throughout a four-block area. There was also a power outage in the area that affected about 5,000 customers.

      An emergency shelter was set up for those displaced by the fire at the San Bruno Recreation Center at 251 City Park Way. According to the Red Cross, it had about 100 people who needed shelter Thursday night. Many people walked from the fire zone with only the clothes on their backs. Many women were seen walking with children in their arms, just happy to be alive, but not knowing where to go.

      Fire crews would be on scene all night. Their biggest fear is that an ember from the fires would float to another home or neighborhood.

      San Bruno set up an emergency hotline for victims or people worried about friends or loved one. (650) 616-7180. They asked everyone who lived in the area to call the line and register.

    • 2 years ago
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      http://www.mercurynews.com/giants/ci_16037362

      Giants Pablo Sandoval's mother evacuated after San Bruno explosion, fire

      By Andrew Baggarly

      abaggarly@mercurynews.com
      Posted: 09/09/2010 08:56:40 PM PDT
      Updated: 09/09/2010 11:47:35 PM PDT

      Sandoval's mother safe after San Bruno explosion

      SAN DIEGO -- Pablo Sandoval was relieved that his mother, Amelia, safely evacuated the house he is renting in San Bruno, which was threatened by a massive blaze touched off by a ruptured gas line Thursday.

      Sandoval said his mother went to stay with her other son, Michael, who is preparing to participate in the California League playoffs for the Giants' Single-A affiliate in San Jose.

      Sandoval didn't learn of the fire and evacuation until after the Giants' 7-3 victory over the San Diego Padres. He said he wasn't concerned about the house or any property there.

      "Only my family," he said. "My family is the most important thing to me."

      Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he learned of the fire and the impact on Sandoval when G.M. Brian Sabean informed him after the game.

      "My prayers are with everybody up there," Bochy said. "This sounds like it's a bad one -- a real tragedy."

    • 2 years ago
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      http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0910-san-bruno-explosion-20100910,0,4188...

      Two firefighters from nearby Pacifica stand awestruck at the destruction in a San Bruno neighborhood. The blaze leveled at least 53 homes. (Brant Ward / San Francisco Chronicle / September 9, 2010)

      By Maria LaGanga, Jessica Guynn and Robert J. Lopez, Los Angeles Times

      September 10, 2010|12:25 a.m.

      Reporting from San Bruno, Calif., and Los Angeles —
      A massive explosion believed to have been caused by a gas line break sparked an inferno that consumed a San Bruno neighborhood Thursday night, killing at least one person, leveling 53 homes, forcing residents to run for their lives and leaving about 23 people injured, a number of them with severe burns.

      The blast, which occurred shortly after 6 p.m., ignited a wind-driven fire that quickly destroyed or damaged more than 170 homes, set treetops on fire and illuminated the sky for miles around. Hours after the explosion, fire crews from throughout the state continued to rush to the scene, but their efforts were hampered by winds that reportedly reached more than 30 mph.

      As of 10 p.m., authorities had confirmed one fatality. The fire had burned across 10 acres and was 50% contained late Thursday, a state official said. A complete search of the area proved impossible with the fire still burning into the night.

      Get breaking news alerts delivered to your mobile phone. Text BREAKING to 52669.

      "My house is gone. I'm trying to keep from just breaking down. Everything's gone," said Tina Pellegrini, whose home was near Claremont and Glenview drives.

      "I was in my bedroom and heard a boom," she said. "My house is shaking. I thought it was an earthquake. I get the dog to go ride it out. We look out the living room window and it was orange. I had the forethought to put on my shoes and grab my purse and run out of my house. I could feel the fire from five houses away. It was so intense."

      Marla Shelmadine lives four houses down from the explosion site.

      "We went outside. It was like an inferno," she said. "If we stayed any longer, our skin would have melted."

      Shelmadine, who fled with her cat and three dogs, was among evacuees who gathered at the Bayhill Shopping Center to wait for word about their homes and friends.

      "I got them by the tail," she said of her animals. "By the time we got to the garage it was filled with smoke. The house three doors down was in flames."

      She said her house is gone. Some witnesses in the residential area, which is not far from San Francisco International Airport, said that the explosion sounded like a plane crash and that it rocked homes and windows. But authorities soon ruled out that possibility.

      Although Pacific Gas and Electric crews on scene told television news reporters that a gas line rupture sparked the explosion, spokesmen for the power company cautioned that they were still investigating. Late Thursday, the utility confirmed that one of its lines in the area had ruptured, but said that the cause of the fire had not been determined.

      "Our hearts and thoughts go out to those affected by this terrible, terrible tragedy," said PG&E spokesman J.D. Guidi.

      Neighbors and volunteer groups pitched in to help, with some residents reportedly stepping in to direct traffic away from the area. Those gathered at the Bayhill Shopping Center, a few miles from the explosion site, clustered around the Starbuck's and an Extreme Pizza store and talked about what they had witnessed.

      Hifa Salfiti, who lives on Claremont Drive, said she and her husband were stunned by the blast.

      "We were sitting in the house and heard a huge explosion," she said. "We thought first of all it was an earthquake. It was beyond huge. We ran to the deck and saw a huge fire. We ran to the street and they began evacuating us. The fire was like hell."

      Salfiti, who was clad in her pink bathrobe, said she and her husband quickly fled. She did not know if her house was still standing.

      Throughout the evening, shaken people arrived at the shopping center, embracing each other and talking about their losses.

      Bob Marshall, the former mayor of San Bruno, a city of about 41,000, said his house was undamaged in the blast. He came to see if anybody needed help.

      "We were in our house. It sure sounded like a plane went over," Marshall said. "The next thing we saw, the flames, the explosion and the flames."

      Many who fled had no idea whether they had homes to go back to.

      Doug Kunze, who lives on Claremont Drive, said he was watching a football game on TV when he heard an explosion and saw fire. The cable went out and the water went out.

      "The fire was huge. It was 100 feet in the air," he said. "Something was continually feeding it. It got so hot you couldn't get closer than a block."

      He said he and his family evacuated on foot.

      "I'm not sure we have any place to go back to," Kunze said. "So many homes were destroyed. The neighborhood will never be the same."

      Dan Grassis said he heard several booms and opened the garage door to find flames and smoke. "It was like something you see in a war movie," he said.

      At nightfall, a San Mateo County sheriff's truck drove up and down street, using a loudspeaker to order people to leave. Law enforcement officials canvassed the neighborhood.

      Even as crews continued to fight the flames, insurance agents and construction contractors were passing out their cards at the shopping center and asking people if they could help.

      "Anybody with Farmers Insurance? Want to open up a claim?" shouted Doug Wong, a general adjustor with the agency.

      The explosion Thursday evoked memories for many in the area of a deadly November 2004 pipeline explosion in Walnut Creek, which is across San Francisco Bay from San Bruno.

      In that incident, a 60-foot pillar of fire erupted from a punctured Kinder-Morgan petroleum pipeline beside Las Lomas High School when a backhoe apparently clipped the high-pressure fuel line. Contractors were working to install a massive water pipe for the East Bay Municipal Utility District just a few feet from the fuel line's path. A clear account of casualties Thursday was not immediately available, but hospital officials reported caring for badly burned patients.

      A man and a woman in serious condition were being treated at San Francisco General Hospital, a spokeswoman said.

      The two, spokeswoman Rachale Kagan said, "were in critical condition due to the burns."

      At least three other badly burned patients were taken to St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, a spokeswoman said.

      At Peninsula Medical Center in Millbrae, medical personnel were treating 10 patients with minor burns. The facility had declared a trauma alert, calling in extra personnel to deal with the emergency.

      As flames continued to rage out of control in San Bruno, fire crews from outlying cities and agencies poured in to help.

      Four air tankers, two smaller attack planes and 25 fire engines from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection were headed to the blaze, the agency said.

      Off-duty firefighters, some of them without their protective gear, were battling the blaze alongside overwhelmed crews from the small San Bruno Fire Department, according to news reports.

      The Blood Center of the Pacific issued an emergency alert and asked for people to donate blood Friday.

      At San Francis Hospital, a major burn center, medical crews were gearing up to treat more patients.

      "We do expect more victims," said spokeswoman Theresa Edison.

      Times staff writers Megan Garvey, Maura Dolan, Lee Romney and Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.

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      http://www.examiner.com/sf-in-san-francisco/san-bruno-california-fire-gas-main-e...

      San Francisco Examiner

      San Bruno, California fire: Gas main explodes, burns San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood

      * September 9th, 2010 8:24 pm PT

      KGO-TV live coverage of San Bruno fire
      Photo: KGO-TV

      San Bruno, California fire: Gas main explodes, burns San Francisco Bay Area neighborhood

      Update 8:20pm: KGO-TV is reporting that as many as 45 houses have burned.

      Update 8:10pm: A San Mateo Office of Emergency Services spokeswoman says that an emergency shelter has been set up at the San Bruno recreational center. For more information call 650-616-7180

      Update, 8:05pm: KGO-TV is reporting that San Francsco General is treating at least two people with critical injuries. KGO radio is reporting that the former Ingals School is among the buildings that is burning.

      Update, 7:55pm: A witness is telling KCBS that she saw the ground explode in fire. She says the fire burned in a line along the ground. The witness said she believes a gas main had caught fire. She said that heavy winds helped spread the flames rapidly through the neighborhood.

      Update, 7:53pm: KCBS is reporting that the fire appears to have broken out at the intersection of Claremont and Glenview. Another large explosion was heard in the area around 7:50pm.

      Update: 7:50pm: KGO-TV is reporting that a 2-foot gas main is involved in the fire. KPIX-TV reports that firefighters say they are battleing the blaze as if it were a high-pressure gas main explosion.

      Update: 7:40pm: KGO-TV is reporting that while the main fireball has died down, multiple homes are still engulfed in flames. A five-mile no-fly zone has been set up around the fire to give firefighting crews an opportunity to battle the fames from the air.

      Update, 7:38pm: KCBS is reporting that an entire neighborhood is engulfed in flames. KGO-TV says that a local hospital is overloaded dealing with multiple injuries.

      Update: 7:34pm: A witness is telling KGO-TV that he helped two women who appeared to have severe thrird degree burns. Cal Fire is making multiple water air drops but appear to be making little headway against the fire.

      Update 7:26pm: An airport spokesman has told KGO-TV that contrary to reports, that no plane has crashed.

      Update: 7:24pm, a retired PG&E utility worker is telling KGO-TV that he believes that a gas main is burning.

      Update: 7:15pm Authorities say they don't know what caused the explosion and fire. Several residents reported hearing a rumbling sound before the explosion and fire. But neither the FAA nor San Francisco International Airport are reporting that any plane has crashed.

      Update: 7:10pm, Television video is showing a huge fireball engulfing several residential blocks.

      Update, 7pm, KCBS is reporting that multiple residential blocks are on fire. The neighborhood is engulfed in a wall of flames. Television pictures show multiple houses on fire.

      A KCBS reporter talked to a woman who just barely made it out of her home before it was engulfed in flames. As of 7:05pm, the fire was still burning unchecked and out of control.

      KCBS is reporting that at least a dozen houses and as many as 20 cars are on fire.

      A KCBS reporter on the scene says he saw paramedics treating a number of people who have been injured. A staging area has been set up at the Lunardi's Market in San Bruno.

      San Francisco International Airport says that they have no reports of any planes that have crashed.

      The fire area is near Skyline Blvd and San Bruno Avenue, near the San Bruno Avenue exit off Highway 280.

      Shortly before 6:30pm. a massive explosion and fire has rocked San Bruno.

      Some people say that it sounded as if a plane had crashed but there is no confirmation of any plane crash.

      KGO-TV reporting that four homes are on fire.

      This is in the Rollingwood area of San Bruno. KGO-TV is reporting traffic has slowed along highway 380 and 280. A large plume of smoke can be seen from San Francisco and a wide part of the Bay Area.

      San Bruno is San Mateo County, west of San Francisco International Airport.

    • 2 years ago
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