1 dead after large explosion, fire in San Bruno
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San Bruno neighborhood on fire
Updated on: 2010-09-09 22:40:16
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San Bruno explosion: Eyewitness account
Updated on: 2010-09-09 23:13:40
At least one person is dead and dozens of homes have been destroyed after a major gas explosion and serie of fires in San Bruno.
A large fireball reaching up to 50 feet in the air at times burned for hours in the Crestmoor Two area. Fire crews are attacked the fires from the air and ground and declared the fire 50 percent contained by 11 p.m. As many as 53 homes were severely damaged and 120 homes suffered some damage.
PG&E confirms a 24-inch PG&E high-pressure gas line is the source of the explosion and fire. Crews are working to shut down distribution lines to get the remaining gas out of the lines.
There is reportedly a 15-foot crater with a gas pipeline sticking out at the epicanter of the explosion near the intersection of Glenview Drive and Earl Avenue. A witness says the surrounding asphalt is melted and almost all of the homes on Glenview Drive are destroyed.
Lieutenant Gov. Abel Maldonado has declared a state of emergency in the area and will visit Friday afternoon. (Maldonado is acting governor while Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is out of the country.)
People as far as one-half mile away say they felt the boom and heat of the explosion.
The San Mateo County Sheriff activated the reverse-911 system to alert people in a three-quarter mile radius of a voluntary evacuation.
Evacuation centers have been set up at the San Bruno Veterans Memorial Recreation Center and the connecting senior center at 251 City Park Way. About 200 residents are being housed there. Residents are also gathering at Tanforan and Bayhill shopping centers. The Red Cross and Salvation Army are set up at Bayhill to provide victim assistance.
The city of San Bruno is asking residents in the impacted to check-in with Red Cross officials to let them know they are safe. They can check-in in person or by calling 650-616-7180. A local state of emergency has been declared.
The PETCO at the Tanforan shopping center is offering overnight shelter for small animals.
The initial explosion blew out a water line and fire fighters were without water for the first 30 minutes. Crews are shuttling water into area.
AT&T is reporting that at least one cell tower is down and customers may be experiencing service outages.
Northbound and southbound I-280 exits at San Bruno Avenue are closed at this time. In addition, Skyline Boulevard, Sneath Lane and San Bruno Avenue are closed. Drivers are asked to avoid the area if possible.
At least 5,000 PG&E customers are without power.
Mills Peninsula Hospital is treating 10 patients with injuries in their emergency room. San Francisco General Hospital has at least five patients, one person in critical condition. Kaiser in South San Francisco is treating 15 patients. Seaton Medical Center is treating three patients.
The FAA says it was not a plane. SFO spokesperson Mike McCarron says no plane from SFO is involved.
Capuchino High School in San Bruno will be offering on-campus counseling Friday.
Red Cross Hotline for Victims: 1-888-443-5722
The city of San Bruno is asking residents in the impacted to check-in with Red Cross officials to let them know they are safe. They can check-in in person or by calling 650-616-7180.
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Story posted 2010.09.09 at 11:25 PM PDT
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Víctor Lei
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