Explosion erupts in California

Lexi Vinick April 19 2017, 2:05 p.m.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif- An explosion occurred shortly after 8 a.m. today in the
neighborhood bounded by Duffy Street and Highland Avenue. Officials reported that the
explosion occurred when a 14-inch pipeline ruptured while carrying unleaded fuel.

According to Gregory Garcia, a spokesman for the mayor of San Bernardino, a Red Cross
evacuation center has been set up at the Jobs Corps Center, 3753 Kerry Street. Around
700 people have already been transported to this center. Victims have also been admitted
to the San Bernardino County Medical Center.

We dont know the cause of the break. It could have been the train, obviously, said
David Andries, an official of the Calnev gas company.

The explosion occurred in the same neighborhood that a 69-car runaway freight train
derailed in two weeks ago. Officials are unsure whether or not this contributed to the
explosion.

San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman toured the area just this morning from a
helicopter. He claimed that officials informed him that the area was safe after the railroad
accident.

We were assured by the pipeline people it was safe and the experts who examined it said
there was no danger, said Penman.

Andries also reported that the pipeline sprayed fuel on houses when it ruptured. Severe
damage has occurred in the area, as well as in areas surrounding the scene.

Bill Stewart, an insurance agent who was visiting a client, Martha Franklin was in a
house about a block away from the explosion.

We were sitting at the table and we heard this loud noise, and it just started getting
bigger. I ran to the window and looked out and could see nothing but smoke; then we
both hit the floor. We waited for it to blow over, but it didnt go away, said Stewart.
We looked outside. The grass was burning- green grass burning. Everything was
burning, even the concrete.

Some individuals were not as lucky as Steward and Franklin to be able to exit their
homes. San Bernardino Councilwoman, Valerie Pope-Ludlam, ran out of her house when
the explosion occurred. Her house, which contained her sister, cousin and a 6-month-old
baby, blew up behind her.

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The explosion originated in the Calnev Pipeline, which is a 550-mile buried refined oil
products pipeline owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners. It carries gasoline, jet fuel,
and diesel fuel from Los Angeles, California to North Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to Calnev pipeline General Manager Jed Robinson, a valve of the pipeline
near the existing fire may not be completely closed. This could influence the time it takes
to put out the fire.

Normally when there is not an awful lot of fuel, you just contain it and try and let it burn
out, said Robinson.

Robinson unfortunately is unsure how much fuel is currently in the pipe.

A similar explosion of this pipeline last occurred on December 22, 1980 in Las Vegas
Valley near Tropicana Avenue. The pipeline ruptured and spilled for two hours before the
fuel ignited.

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