San Bruno, CAA gas explosion Thursday night has left at least six people dead and 20 confirmed burn victims in San Bruno, just south of San Francisco. The massive blast destroyed more than 53 homes and 120 buildings. At least 120 homes also suffered serious damage. According to news station KTVU, several blocks of San Bruno are still burning out of control.
At first, locals believed a plane had crashed because San Bruno is so close to the SFO International Airport. "I thought a 747 had landed on us," said San Bruno Fire Captain Charlie Barringer . "It shook our station right to its foundation." Officials confirmed a 24-inch gas-main explosion was responsible for the blaze. In an e-mailed statement, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said that "if it is ultimately determined that we were responsible for the cause of the incident, we will take accountability."
The National Transportation Safety Board said today that it has sent a four-member team to San Bruno to investigate the blast. As of Thursday night, Pacific Gas and Electric's president, Christopher Johns, said he didn't know what sparked the explosion.
California Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldonado has declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County.