Fresno Gas Line Explosion Leaves Multiple People Injured

Apr 18, 2015 05:37 AM EDT

(Photo : Reuters) A firefighter watches the blaze after a gas line exploded near Fresno, California April 17, 2015. A construction crew accidentally ruptured a natural gas transmission line on Friday in Fresno, California, sparking an explosion and fire that injured up to 15 people, at least one of them critically, a fire department spokesman said. The 12-inch (30-cm) pipeline, belonging to Pacific Gas & Electric Corp, was struck by a backhoe near state Highway 99, unleashing a fireball that injured members of the construction team and a prison inmate crew in the vicinity, spokesman Peter Martinez said. REUTERS/Fresno Fire Department/handout via Reuters

A part of Highway 99 was closed for several hours on Friday afternoon because of a gas pipeline explosion near Fresno, California. At least 11 people were injured in the explosion, three of whom are in critical condition and one in serious condition.

The victim are confined at a burn and trauma center in Fresno, reports KCRA.

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The blast was recorded at about 2:30 p.m. Tony Botti, spokesman of the Fresno County Sheriff's office, said the explosion was at the gun range. A work crew, which included inmates, and was using a front-end loader, hit a pipe that transports natural gas.

A large fireball leapt into the sky, according to Pete Martinez from the Fresno Fire Department. The blaze was a two-alarm call for firefighters. To douse the fireball, PG&E workers shut the gas line. The crew is investigating the incident

A passing motorist said the flame reached more than 200 feet into the air and was about 10 to 15 feet wide. Despite the car's air conditioning system being on, the driver said it felt like a furnace inside the vehicle.

Since the heat was so intense that it melted plastic garbage bins at a building 400 feet way, the sheriff's deputies ordered the workers to go to the San Joaquin River during the blaze.

Margaret Mims, a deputy from the sheriff's office, said the fireball sounded similar to a jet going off. She said it was the result of the gas and the fire, reports NBC.

A nearby rail line was ordered to temporarily stop operations to avert the risk of leaking gas sparked by a passing train. Some residents in the area had to be evacuated from their units.

One of those in critical condition was a worker who was thrown from the heavy equipment by the force of the blast. While he sustained very serious injuries, the county worker was able to walk to the ambulance. He and an inmate, who was seriously injured too, were undergoing emergency surgery on Friday evening, Mims said.

It stopped all vehicles going north and south on Highway 99. However, the California Highway Patrol reports that all lanes were open again by 5:15 p.m.

Tagsfresno, Gas Explosion, accident