San Bruno fire. An explosion and multi-home fire devastated a residential neighborhood after a PG&E main natural gas pipe ruptured on September 9th, 2010, at about 6:15 pm, killing three people, injuring dozens more, and destroying 53 homes and damaging 123.The explosion, which took place two miles west of San Francisco International Airport, was initially thought to have been a plane crash, but the FAA and airport officials confirmed no downed aircraft has been reported.
The utility company that 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.
Flames hot enough to crack a fire engine windshield incinerated 53 homes and damaged 120 as crews continued battling the blaze into the night. At least one person was confirmed dead in the blast, San Bruno Fire Chief Dennis Haag said.
The fire had spread to 10 acres and was 50 percent contained late Thursday, said Jay Allen, spokesman for the California Emergency Management Agency.
Between 150 and 200 firefighters were at the scene, Haag said. More than 100 people were being sheltered at nearby evacuation centers, but no estimate of the number of residents missing was available, he said.
Witnesses said 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.
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