KQED News

Firefighters Continue to Battle Explosion in San Bruno

Firefighters are still battling a large fire burning on a hillside in San Bruno near Skyline Boulevard area and San Bruno Avenue. The fire was caused by the explosion of a high-pressure gas line operated by PG&E Corp.

September 9, 2010 -- 9:31 PM

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More than a dozen people are injured in the massive fire that is still burning in San Bruno. The fire has burned homes and is still raging through the Crestmoor neighborhood in the hills south of San Francisco.

Around 6:15 pm PDT a high-power PG&E gas line exploded, causing the fire.

Firefighters are now on the scene from cities all over the Bay Area and more crews are stinging to come out and fight the fire.

"It looks like a bomb went off," says KQED's Scott Shafer. "There are homes leveled. There are trees that are just now stumps because they have burned, in some to the ground."

A loud explosion thundered through the neighborhood, and many thought that a plane had originally crashed, Shafer said.

"Many people of course are were trying to get to safety, get out of their homes and figure out what had happened, whether it was an earthquake or a plane crash," Shafer says. "Many people went outside to look and felt these tremendous flames."

The power is off in the area. Neighbors are gathering in the streets behind police lines and waiting, Shafer said.

View a map of the fire area, shelters, and hospitals taking burn victims.

Here are some emergency resources for those affected and for those who want to help:

• Emergency Shelter Hotline for San Bruno Explosion & Fire victims:(650) 616-7180
They are also taking names of those reported missing.

• Blood Centers of the Pacific are asking for donations
Visit http://www.redcross.org/where and plug in your zip code to find nearest center.

• People trying to contact local residents are being directed to the Bay Hill Shopping Center. There is a shelter at the San Bruno Veterans Recreation Center and at the Church of the Highlands.

• PETCO in San Bruno is taking pets in need.

Traffic:Northbound I-280 exit is closed at northbound Hwy 35/Skyline Blvd due to a fire in the area. Northbound and southbound I-280 San Bruno Avenue exits are closed and Skyline Blvd at College is closed.