By Associated Press
FRESNO, Calif.--A large gas pipeline exploded Friday in central
California, closing both directions of a major highway in the
region and injuring at least 11 people, at least three of them
critically, authorities said.
It wasn't clear what caused the explosion at the Fresno County
Sheriff's gun range that brought traffic in the area to a halt. But
authorities say it occurred while a county equipment operator was
working with a jail inmate crew to expand a road on the range
alongside heavily traveled Highway 99.
The flames shot well over 100 feet into the air, several
witnesses said.
Four patients were being treated at Community Regional Medical
Center's burn and trauma unit, spokeswoman Mary Lisa Russell said.
Three of them are in critical condition and one is in serious
condition, she said.
Four other patients were taken to St. Agnes Hospital and three
more to Madera Community Hospital, Fresno County Medical Services
director Dan Lynch said.
Traffic heading north and south on Highway 99 in Fresno was
halted by the explosion about 2:30 p.m. as flames towered over the
roadway, the California Highway Patrol reported. The highway was
reopened three hours later, the CHP said.
The explosion took place at the Fresno County Sheriff's gun
range, where a work crew, including county jail inmates, using
heavy equipment apparently hit a Pacific Gas Electric Co. pipe
carrying natural gas, Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims said.
A nearby rail line was also halted out of concern that a passing
train could spark leaking gas.
The front-loader driver was a county public works employee who
had been working at the shooting range all day, along with 13 jail
inmate workers. They were expanding a road on a tall berm that
confines gunfire to the range, Ms. Mims said.
Four inmate workers are among the injured, she added.
Asked whether the driver was scraping or digging the earth when
the gas exploded, Ms. Mims said her office is investigating.
"Hopefully we'll be able to speak to the worker to see what action
he was taking at the time, " she said.
The flames prompted a two-alarm call of firefighters, said Pete
Martinez of the Fresno Fire Department.
The 12-inch diameter pipeline involved in the fire belongs to
PG&E, Martinez said. A front-loader was in the area, but it
wasn't clear if the vehicle was digging at the time of the
explosion. The operator was flown by helicopter to a hospital in
serious condition, Mr. Martinez said.
"It was a large explosion that shook the surrounding area," he
said.
PG&E spokesman Keith Stephens referred questions to local
authorities. Stephens said he couldn't comment on whether the
pipeline involved was PG&E's or whether anyone with PG&E
had been at the scene.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.
Access Investor Kit for PG&E Corp.
Visit
http://www.companyspotlight.com/partner?cp_code=P479&isin=US69331C1080
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires