Gas Explosions

Natural gas explosions can occur anywhere, and they can be as devastating. Power companies, tasked to transport this fuel to homes for heating and cooking, have exhaustive measures to move natural gas safely. For example, methane gas is odorless and colorless, but often a minute odorant is added so a leak is can be detected before a fire or an explosion occurs.

Unfortunately, power companies often do not follow their own procedures and safety protocols, and gas explosions occur as a result.

Take, for example, the natural gas line explosion that resulted in a fire which consumed several dozen homes in San Bruno, a suburb of San Francisco. Tragically, there have been several deaths and numerous burn injuries as a result of the inferno that followed the initial explosion. Images of the ruptured gas transmission line were broadcast throughout the evening; more than 12 hours after the explosion, the fire was still only 75 percent contained.

Federal investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the cause of the inferno. The NTSB is most often associated with investigations following airline crashes, but it also has jurisdiction over explosions where gas lines are thought to possibly have played a role. PG&E is also conducting an investigation.
Residents of San Bruno have alleged that PG&E received reports of gas leaks in the area weeks before the explosion.

PG&E is no stranger to natural gas explosions. In December 2008, a 72 year old Rancho Cordova man died after a leak under his home caused an explosion that completely leveled his home. His daughter and granddaughter were also injured in the blaze. The two homes on either side were also damaged. The NTSB, in its official report, cited the 2-hour 47-minute delay of a PG&E response crew properly trained and equipped to identify and classify outdoor leaks and to begin response activities to ensure the safety of the residents and public as a contributing factor to the accident.

O'Reilly Collins has extensive experience dealing with public utility gas line explosions. In 1997, the firm recovered $2.5 million dollars in the death of 2 and a half year old after a construction company bent a gas pipe, causing a leak and gas explosion. The utility had ample notice that the construction company was hitting gas pipes regularly, and had mismarked the subject gas pipe's location. 

In 2005, the firm negotiated a $20 million dollar settlement for a pedestrian who suffered third-degree burns on 40% of her body after a gas line explosion.

For more information, please contact an attorney at O'Reilly Collins or call our law offices in San Mateo at (888) 696-5371

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