At least four people are dead and 50 are injured after a massive natural-gas explosion caused a raging fire in San Bruno, California. The accident has raised concern over the safety of the network of natural-gas pipelines that crosses the nation.
The San Bruno Gas Line Explosion
According to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) President Chris Johns, a large steel pipe carrying natural gas ruptured about three feet below a San Bruno road just before 6:30 p.m. on September 9, 2010. Witnesses said the fire looked like an enormous blowtorch flame coming out of the ground, and it spread quickly throughout the close-knit neighborhood.
Dozens of homes and cars were engulfed in flames as the fire grew to 100 feet tall and extended in several directions just two miles away from the San Francisco International Airport. Up to 200 firefighters were dispatched to battle the blaze, and local hospitals prepared to treat a high number of burn victims.
Officials reported that at least four people died and around 50 people were injured, some critically. Thirty-eight structures were destroyed and scores more suffered measurable damage. Many cars remained as burned-out frames on the street.
California Lieutenant Governor Abel Maldenado, acting while Governor Schwarzenegger was out of the country, declared a state of emergency in San Mateo County and reported that a "swift investigation" would be launched to determine the cause of the fire.
The Safety of Natural Gas Pipelines
According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, there have been 2,840 significant gas pipeline accidents in the U.S. in the past twenty years. In 2009, there were 163 accidents causing 10 deaths and injuring nearly 60 people.
Some industry observers claim that pipeline oversight by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration is weak and insufficient. They say that the nation's 296,000 miles of onshore natural-gas pipelines routinely suffer breakdowns and failures.
Furthermore, there are no federal regulations that require pipelines to be set back a safe distance from homes or commercial buildings. Similarly, there are no set back rules that require new homes and commercial buildings to be built a safe distance away from pipelines.
This accident is not the first time a PG&E natural-gas pipeline has caused destruction in a Northern California neighborhood. In 2008, an explosion on Christmas Eve killed a 72-year-old man. After The National Transportation Safety Board reported that PG&E was at fault, the company said it had taken "extraordinary measures" to ensure a blast like that would never happen again.
Unfortunately, a devastating rupture has occurred again, and PG&E could face significant liability if it is found responsible for the explosion. If you or a loved one has been injured or lost your home in a gas explosion, contact a personal injury attorney in your area to discuss any legal claims you may have.
