All 6 people injured in Hayward gas line explosion are expected to survive, officials say
ALAMEDA COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- All six people injured in a gas line explosion and fire that leveled at least one home near Hayward on Thursday are expected to survive.
The six were sent to the hospital following the explosion in the 800 block of East Lewelling Boulevard in the unincorporated Alameda County community of Ashland.
Three of the victims had minor injuries and three had more serious injuries but were listed in stable condition, including a resident who was badly burned, according to Cheryl Hurd, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Fire Department.
In addition to burns, victims were treated for respiratory issues and fractured bones, Hurd said.
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As of Friday afternoon, all residents in the area were accounted for and all lingering hotspots were doused, she said.
Initial information released by fire officials and PG&E indicate that the explosion happened about two hours after a construction crew hit a PG&E gas line.
PG&E declined an interview request. But in a statement to ABC7 News, it provided more details about the timeline of events.
PGE says it was notified at 7:35 a.m. on Thursday that a third-party, non-PGE construction crew, which was working on an Alameda County's road improvement project, damaged an underground natural gas line while digging. PG&E crews were immediately sent to fix it.
In its statement, PG&E said, "Crews worked to address more than one location of damage and subsequently two releases of gas. One release of natural gas was stopped at 8:18 a.m. And the second release was stopped at 9:25 a.m."
The explosion happened 10 minutes later.
In a statement to ABC7 News, Travis Miller, Vice President Redgwick Construction, the company working on this road work project, says that one of its subcontractors inadvertently struck a gas line. And that, "We immediately stopped work in the area and notified PG&E. PG&E instructed us to clear the area, which we did, and they took control of the situation."
Bo Yan lives two doors down on the same side of the street and said she was in her backyard when the house went up in flames.
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"There was a boom and then there was the roof in the sky," Yan said.
Yan's house, along with several others in on the block, endured varying amounts of damage from the explosion, including extensive cracks in ceilings and walls that are reminiscent of earthquake damage, she said.
"I didn't know that the gas leak happened at 7:30 a.m. And so, I don't why they didn't have anyone evacuate if they knew there was a gas leak, and they are working in front of that house, that had the gas leak," said Cassandra Bernal, who lives in the neighborhood.
She said residents have been complaining about the county's road work expansion project for more than a year. One of her concerns is why residents were not given notice that the road work could impact the gas line.
"I honestly thought it was going to spread. And hearing from other neighbors last night, that the explosion that happened in San Bruno, it was an entire street. Everyone was like, 'Thank God it didn't happen to the entire street,'" Bernal said.
PG&E crews brought in fencing on Friday to close off the home that exploded and the ones next to it.
It was the first time many, including ABC7 News, were able to get close to the site of the explosion.
Some neighbors were in disbelief at what they were seeing.
VIDEO: Neighbors still in disbelief as crews investigate debris from Hayward house explosion
"It's been a lot. 'Overwhelming' is probably the single best word to describe it. Just completely overwhelming," said Brittany Maldonado, who lives directly across the street from the house that blew up.
PG&E is moving her family to a hotel since some parts of the street still don't have gas.
"It's devastating. My heart goes out to the people that live here, and I hope that they can move on and that they're not injured too badly," said Katrina Ferreria.
New video shows the aftermath of what was once a house. Debris, like glass, could still be seen in the street. The houses on either side of the one that exploded were also devastated by the blast.
Cathy Rodriguez, who lives a few doors down, spent the entire day Thursday with her neighbors, offering support. She said it wasn't until she went home that night that she started to process the reality of what happened to her neighbor's home, just steps away.
"I just, like, broke down," Rodriguez said.
Right now, though, she said her concern isn't for herself, but for the rest of this community.
"I'm just thinking about my neighbors and the elderly that live in these two houses, because now they don't have a house," Rodriguez said.
PG&E, Cal/OSHA and the National Transportation Safety Board are all part of the investigation.
Now that the initial emergency response is complete, NTSB has taken over the investigation into the cause of the explosion.
"A team of four NTSB investigators are arriving at the scene today," according to a statement from NTSB spokesperson Peter Knudson. "Once on site, investigators will begin the process of documenting the accident scene and conducting an initial visual examination of the pipeline and equipment involved."
NTSB investigations involve three primary areas -- human factors, the pipeline system and the operating environment, Knudson said in an email.
NTSB investigators will look at pipeline operating practices and procedures, pipeline pressures before and during the accident, maintenance records and local environmental conditions, including soil conditions for buried pipelines, among other things.
"Because the NTSB is only staffed to investigate a very small fraction of the pipeline accidents, NTSB selects pipeline accidents for investigation based on the potential to identify broader safety implications, high public risk, and resources available," Knudson said.
Residents in the neighborhood said they were told by PG&E that gas can't be turned on at their home until the investigation is finished. Alameda County officials say it could be weeks before it can determine a point of origin for the explosion.
Anyone with video or other information about the explosion can contact the NTSB at witness@ntsb.gov.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
