San Bruno pipeline fire

[drewkitty]

A curious thing happened in San Bruno this evening. One of the two major gas supply pipelines to San Francisco decided to cough a bit. Explosively. Fireball over sixty feet in the air.

At least one confirmed fatality, over 28 injured many with critical burns, at least 53 homes destroyed, and a sudden urban-wildland interface fire combined with the need to shuttle water due to broken water mains. Don't plan on using Interstate 280 for your commute tomorrow, either.

The usual suspects are running around trying to develop leads. If it's an accident, PG&E is going to be writing some mighty hefty checks. If not so much, some guilty suspect(s) will be deposited with no hope of early withdrawal.

Comments

[bunnybutt.livejournal.com]

saw at least one story claiming a backhoe operated by a municipal utility nicked the gas line. Oops.

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

280 was open this morning. Nice quick work knocking this one down.

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

There are basically three scenarios:

-- Call Before You Dig ("and we didn't . . .")

-- corrosion due to water in the pipeline

-- manmade disaster aka "movie plot threat"

Two out of the three require checkbooks and guys in suits. The third requires guys in suits with guns.

[ravan.livejournal.com]

I'm going to bet on number two.

[drewkitty.livejournal.com]

If so, this country has a massive pipeline safety problem. PG&E is universally regarded as one of the safer gas and electric operators. So if they bit the wax tadpole this hard, the entire pipeline industry has a huge problem and this could be the tip of the iceberg.

Google Earth interestingly reveals that some repaving was done in the area prior to the explosion. I could make all sorts of uninformed speculation surrounding that fact, but it could be made to support any of the three scenarios.