San Bruno Neighborhood Devastation: New Video Released (Photos)

by Amy Judd | September 13, 2010 at 09:29 am

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Residents of the San Bruno Neighborhood Are Still Examining the Devastation on Monday After An Explosion Rocked the Area Last Thursday Night

The explosion that rocked the San Bruno neighborhood last week destroyed 37 homes, has killed at least four people with four more still unaccounted for, and hundreds had to evacuate within minutes of the explosion and fire.

SFGate is reporting that Pacific Gas and Electric Co (PG&E) has been ordered to check all of their gas pipelines, thousands of miles of them, so that they can determine if there are any leaks and try and figure out what caused the devastating explosion. The company has to submit a full report of how much has been spent on repairs and how many pipelines have been replaced since 2005.

PG&E released a statement saying they routinely check the gas pipelines and they had reduced pressure in the three transmission lines that feed the Peninsula as an added safety measure.

The pipeline that exploded was installed in 1948 and now California state regulators are concerned other pipelines may be a hazard.

Walter McCaffrey's Video Taken Moments After Blast Occurred

Walter McCaffrey, his wife Cherry and his family live in the area and Mike started recording the video below just moments after the blast occurred.

They have been allowed back into the neighborhood, and are now starting to get their lives back together.

"Cherry and our three children had just driven away when I heard the blast," said McCaffrey. "It shook the house, and everything around me was so hot that I couldn't get outside."

The family only had a few minutes to escape the area. They waited for three days to find out what had happened to their home and friends, Cherry told CNN.

On Sunday afternoon, there was more relief. "It's pretty surreal to be home, knowing that our home is still here just to think the luck we have of not going through what those who lost their home," she said. "We are just so fortunate."

Mike said he expressed concern about the gas to PG&E when they moved in three years ago and was assured everything was fine.