US

Deadly Gas Line Rupture Shatters San Francisco Area Neighborhood

SAN BRUNO, Calif. (AP) – Firefighters poured water on flaming and smoldering wreckage early Friday after a massive explosion sent blazes roaring through a neighborhood in the hills south of San Francisco, killing at least one person, destroying more than 50 homes and damaging dozens of others.

Thursday night’s 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, witnesses said.

Utility officials said a gas line 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.

At least one person was confirmed dead, San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag said. There was no word on injuries.

“It’s going to take us until at least until tomorrow into the afternoon to do a full search,” Haag said late Thursday.

Resident 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.

After the initial blast, flames reached as high as 100 feet as the fire fueled itself on burning homes, leaving some in total ruins and reducing parked automobiles to burned out hulks. At least 120 homes also suffered serious damage.

The fire had spread to 10 acres and was 50 percent contained late Thursday, said Jay Allen, spokesman for the California Emergency Management Agency.

California Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado, acting governor while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was in Asia on a trade mission, declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County.

The declaration frees up funds to help with firefighting costs.

“If it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability,” Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said in an e-mailed statement Thursday evening.

But later Thursday the company’s president, Christopher Johns, said he didn’t know what sparked the explosion.

“I don’t have any details about if there was any work going on, Johns told KTVU-TV. “That will be part of the investigation as we go forward.”

Between 150 and 200 firefighters remained at the scene through the night, according to Haag. More than 100 people were being sheltered at nearby evacuation centers, but no estimate of the number of residents missing was available, he said.

San Bruno Fire Capt. Charlie Barringer 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.

Haag said firefighters initially had trouble getting close enough to the ruptured gas line to shut it down because of the flames.

Victims suffering from serious burns began arriving at San Francisco Bay area hospitals shortly after the blast. An estimate of the number of injured wasn’t immediately available. Hospitals reported receiving about 20 injured patients – several of whom were in critical condition – and they anticipated getting more.

Jane Porcelli, 62, said she lives on a hill above where the fire was centered. She 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.”

Stephanie Mullen, Associated Press news editor for photos based in San Francisco, was attending children’s soccer practice with her two children and husband at Crestmoor High School when she saw the blast at 6:14 p.m.

“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 said. “It was very clear something awful had happened.”

Several minutes later, Mullen was near the fire scene, about a half-mile away in a middle-class neighborhood of 1960s-era homes in hills overlooking San Francisco, the bay and the airport. She said she could feel the heat of the fire on her face although she was three or four blocks away from the blaze. It appeared the fireball was big enough to have engulfed at least several homes.

“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” and “My family is down there.”

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.”

___

Associated Press Writers Juliana Barbassa in San Bruno and Marcus Wohlsen, John S. Marshall and Jason Dearen in San Francisco contributed to this report.

Comments (30)

  • Dan in P.A.
    Posted on September 13, 2010 at 1:38pm

    Every thing man makes can break ,planes crash ships sink an cars crash an pipe lines leak get use to it.We are not perfect believe it or not an things will happen, remember the Titanic the ship that could not sink even if you lived in a cave a wild animal could kill you yes even those poor animals will kill you . Wake up you can die in America an the people that wants the pipe lines checked are blowing there horn its all ready being done an has been in the past .We might have to do it more often in places with earth quakes lets try to make it a little better an not go yelling down the street the sky is falling .

    Report Post »  
  • nextwave
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 6:26pm

    God is telling you to start living right…Cal.

    Report Post »  
  • ybnrml
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:11pm

    I have to agree, that the first thing I thought of, along with a lot of others, is how did this happened? Did someone do this? BUT…I will wait until the investigation is complete before I make any decisions.
    At this point, all we can do is help the families that were impacted. They have just been through a horrible experience. If you can do nothing more than pray for these people, then pray for them, and thank God that it didn’t happen to you.

    Report Post »  
  • carl6352
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 1:27pm

    does anyone find it a little strange that we are seeing alot of these problems in the oil industry pop up all of a sudden? could america be facing a little eco terrorism here. no one would have to take responsibility but like rahm says cant waste a catastrophe to pass cap and trade. very starnge!

    Report Post »  
  • landofthefree2012
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 11:21am

    It’s about time the conspiracy theories started flying around. You’re right “Husky”. Coincidence is one thing. It’s entirely another thing to have several calculated energy system attacks. Oil and gas are so much more devastating than an attack on the electric grid. Not much horror factor there.
    “Honey, did the power go out” doesn’t sound as spectacular as “Damn the neighbors house just blew up”. Look for it continue as they press for clean/green energy alternatives that for much of the country just don’t work.

    Report Post » landofthefree2012  
    • jessieH
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 12:18pm

      It is a lot easier to blow a pipe line than to hijack an airplane. But, I’ll wait and hear the reason why it blew, before I make judgement.

      Report Post »  
  • Docrow
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 11:18am

    moratorium on gas lines?

    lots of prayers for the people!

    Report Post » Docrow  
  • M31Sailor
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:46am

    G Bush seen fleeing from the area

    Obummer demands a 300 million dollar fine of PG&E

    Needs a slush fund to pay for his 10/2 screw America , union hate rally

    Report Post » M31Sailor  
  • huskyawayfromhome
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:39am

    PS. Some of the above posts about folks remembering the pipeline explosion tragedies, prove my point. One is from the 70′s and one is from 1994. 20 years apart! Not 2 WEEKS apart.

    Report Post »  
  • huskyawayfromhome
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:35am

    Is it just me or does someone else suspect foul-play, in this tragedy? Can you say “Eco-Terrorism?” Let’s line up the recent gas/oil ‘explosions’ IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS. 1.) Coal mine in W. Virginia 2.) BP Oil rig explosion of Louisiana 3.) Natural Gas plant fire in Texas 4.) Natural Gas plant fire Pennsylvania 5.) Gas Pipeline explosion in San Bruno, CA. I have lived in Alaska where oil & gas are the bread & butter of the economy,and the safe transfer & processing of these resources is paramount. Typically, oil & gas companies prefer to maintain safe processes, to protect their profits. So I wonder, how so many gas & oil resource avenues have become so unsafe, just in the last six months, as compared to the safe operation of them for a decade or more. Is this just the year of oil & gas distasters, like when we have ‘hurricane’ years? A group of six Eco-terrorists were convicted in 2006 for their crimes attacking various centers in the Pac NW from 1998-2001, including a botanical research facility containing rare NATIVE plants, at the University of Washington.
    Who has the guts to seriously investigate the oil & gas tragedies and find out who is really at fault?

    Report Post »  
    • BIRDY1960
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 1:29pm

      what you say makes sense to me…eco-war…I think whoever blew up the oil rig in the GULF…went with it.

      Report Post »  
    • aafriend
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 3:07pm

      isn‘t this the speaker of the house’s area,humm.

      Report Post » aafriend  
  • EQUALrights4ALL
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:50am

    To the person who is spewing Glenn Beck Quotes – stop wasting your time. You are not going to change anyones mind here. His inspirational quotes far outweigh anything he may have said that was inappropriate. For example, the full quote from your oct 22, 2007, “We come to the center on policies, we come to the center on principles, we come to the center on the melting pot…that we’re all America. That just because I disagree with you, doesn’t mean you hate America, and I love America. We all Love America We just disagree on how we should function…big gov’t/small gov’t. I think there is a handfull of people who hate America…blah blah” he was referring to where they live, not WHY their homes were burning. No one here wants to hear your BS so just go away.

    Report Post »  
  • GlennBeckIsADemagogue
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:10am

    Maybe someone who hated America lived there, and brought this all on themselves. “I think there is a handful of people who hate America. Unfortunately for them, a lot of them are losing their homes in a forest fire today.” –on why people who lost their homes in forest fires in California had it coming, “The Glenn Beck Program,” Oct. 22, 2007

    GlennBeckIsADemagogue  
    • Prospero
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:18pm

      You appear to be having additional problems. You see, speculating on the mindset of a person is nothing more than speculation. Only *you* are suggesting that the mindset caused the tragedy. Glenn Beck made no such claim, either directly or through implication.

      That’s talking to yourself. If you desire a conversation with yourself, you needn’t employ a public forum.

      Report Post » Prospero  
  • GlennBeckIsADemagogue
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:08am

    I wonder how long it will take Glenn to hate the victims of this tragedy. My bet is 2 days short of 4 years. “When I see a 9/11 victim family on television, or whatever, I’m just like, ‘Oh shut up’ I‘m so sick of them because they’re always complaining.” –”The Glenn Beck Program,” Sept. 9, 2005

    GlennBeckIsADemagogue  
    • Prospero
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 2:14pm

      You appear to be having some difficulty with English comprehension. In case you weren’t aware, “distaste” and “hate” are not synonyms.

      If you are having difficulty with English comprehension, there are surely many community colleges in your area offering remedial courses at reasonable rates.

      Report Post » Prospero  
  • dressseller
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:50am

    This is so horrible. I pray for all those affected. God be with them and bless them.

    Report Post »  
  • beekeeper
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:25am

    Only one reported death so far, in way that is a miracle (based on the scale of the explosion).

    Report Post » beekeeper  
  • beekeeper
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:24am

    While rare, these types of explosions aren’t that uncommon:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_pipeline_accidents

    I remember the one in March, 1994 in Edison, NJ – it was near where I lived at the time::

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edison,_New_Jersey_natural_gas_explosion

    Speculation about the cause of the explosion in CA is rampant, but I suspect we’ll find a situation similar to the Edison, NJ blast – brittle pipes, improper excavation along the right-of-way, and excessive pressure all came together to cause the explosion. The excavation did not directly cause the explosion, it simply compromised the pipeline, the excessive pressure caused the compromised pipe to fail at a later date.

    Report Post » beekeeper  
    • wheresmystick
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:23am

      We had a gas line explode here in rural VA back in the seventies. It scared the dickens out of us. We thought we had been nuked at first.

      Report Post » wheresmystick  
    • firstHat
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 10:28am

      HI Beekeeper. Yup I was in Highland Park NJ when the one happened in Edison. Even ten miles away it made things as bright as day in the middle of the night. Never saw anything like it (nor do I want to again). A few of my students at Rutgers were burned out by it. It was absolutely a miracle no one was killed by it. The line that blew in Edison was a main interstate supply line (bigger than most). I don’t know if this one in CA is a regular gas line or one of the major ones. No matter what, it’s scary stuff.

      Report Post »  
    • aafriend
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 1:04pm

      Prayers go out to the families and first responders. None of us as Americans want to see this happen to anyone.

      Though i am concerned with the timing once again with another explosion involving natural resources. without using a conspiracy theory, some questions may want to be asked.

      Why do we just get told about another 50 billion dollar infrastructure bill and all the sudden we have a residential gas line explode.

      Diversion ?
      Gain support for the bill ?
      instill fear ?
      environmentalist ?
      Bp explosion ?

      I watched this current explosion take place last night before all the media and talking heads could get rolling. these concerns came to mind rather quickly.

      Report Post » aafriend  
  • CtrL_DS
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:20am

    God be with them, prayers, thoughts and love to all effected.

    Report Post » CtrL_DS  
  • Debrabate
    Posted on September 10, 2010 at 8:04am

    Will pray for the people effected and for the firefighters working on it.

    Report Post » Debrabate  
    • missmarie
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 12:28pm

      Lord, I pray for all the victims of this tragedy and their families. Please comfort them in their time of need, allow them to rest in your presence, and surround them with love. Please provide gifted and caring people to assist them. Lord, I pray we have a generous heart and the ability to provide a never tiring hand to help them recover. Lord, I pray for all the emergency response personnel. May you always keep them safe and strong. Lord, I appreciate all those you’ve provided with the skills and talent necessary to provide these rescue efforts. Bless them and their families. Lord, I ask that you harden not our hearts, but strengthen our minds and grant us the ability to rise above the blame and move directly to the work involved in ensuring this type of tragedy doesn’t recur. Amen

      Report Post » missmarie  
    • aafriend
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 1:10pm

      I can hear the headline now, Obama’s 50 billion dollar bill needed more than ever ! come on. timing is everything in politics.

      Report Post » aafriend  
    • plunderpower
      Posted on September 10, 2010 at 9:28pm

      San Bruno is on top of the San Andreas Fault line. Earthquakes put stress on these lines. USGS says there was a quake with an epicenter 1 mi from San Bruno on Sept 9th at 6:11 pm. The gas line ruptured sometime just before 6:30 pm.

      Report Post » plunderpower  
    • 4stmichael
      Posted on September 11, 2010 at 2:39am

      Amen

      Report Post » 4stmichael  

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