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Gas Blast in California Suburb Kills One, Burns Homes

   VOA News 10 September 2010
   A  massive fire roars through a mostly residential neighborhood in San
   Bruno, Calif., 9 Sep 2010.

Photo: AP

   A  massive fire roars through a mostly residential neighborhood in San
   Bruno, Calif., 9 Sep 2010.

   California  firefighters  are  battling  a  massive  blaze fueled by a
   broken  natural  gas pipeline in a residential suburb of San Francisco
   that has killed at least one person and injured dozens more.
   Fire  Chief  of San Bruno Dennis Haag said the fire broke out Thursday
   evening  after an apparent gas explosion in the area, just west of the
   San  Francisco International Airport. More than 20 people were treated
   at hospitals for related injuries.

   Video clip: California blaze

   Local  utility company Pacific Gas and Electric confirmed that its gas
   transmission line had ruptured and said it had sent crews to the scene
   to  try and shut the gas line off. In a statement, the company said it
   did  not  know what caused the rupture, but would be fully accountable
   if found responsible.
   The  fire  chief said more than 53 homes have been destroyed, with 120
   more suffering damage. Â
   More than 100 people were in evacuation centers, as officials tried to
   account for missing persons. Officials said it would take until Friday
   afternoon  or  later  to  do  a  full  search of the area for possible
   victims.
   While  fires continued burning early Friday, emergency crews were said
   to have the blaze about 50 percent contained. Â

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