A huge gas pipeline line explosion at the Fresno County Sheriff’s gun range, where a construction crew that included jail inmates was using heavy machinery, has injured 15 people, sending a 60 meter tall fireball in the air.
Authorities are still
trying to determine what exactly caused the explosion in the
central Californian town, but it is known that a jail inmate work
crew has been doing some construction work with heavy machinery
at the site. Witnesses said they saw flames shooting up about 200
feet.
Workers could have hit a Pacific Gas Electric Co. pipe
carrying natural gas, causing the accident, said Tony Botti, a
spokesman for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office. No law
enforcement officers were injured, Botti added.
Medical authorities informed the press that four patients are
being treated at Community Regional Medical Centers, three of
whom are in a critical condition. One was admitted in a serious
condition to the burn and trauma unit, spokeswoman Mary Lisa
Russell said.
Four other patients are being treated at St. Agnes Hospital while
three more are recovering in Madera Community Hospital. Another
four victims suffered minor injuries and were treated and
released at the scene, Fresno County Medical Services director
Dan Lynch said.
A total of 11 inmates were injured, with 3 inmates taken back to
Fresno County Jail as they were never hospitalized, the Sheriff’s
office said.
According to Sheriff Margaret Mims, country workers and inmate
crews typically work at the shooting range building berms and
doing basic maintenance.
The Fire Department confirmed that a 12-inch diameter pipeline
belonging to PGE was ruptured in the accident when a front
loader was working the site, however it remains unclear whether
the vehicle was digging before the explosion. The operator of the
heavy machinery was flown by helicopter to a hospital in serious
condition, the Fire Department said.
Here’s a pipeline warning sign near site of Fresno gas
explosion. pic.twitter.com/i7nhbbab3e
— David Bienick (@kcrabienick) April
18, 2015
“We do not have definitive information,” PGE stated
as the company expressed condolences to those injured.
PGE crews turned off the gas line and fire crews were able
to quickly put out the flames. No homes in the area were
evacuated because of the explosion.
Meanwhile a major travel artery in California, Highway 99 was
forced to close for three hours in both directions according to
the California Highway Patrol as of 2:30 pm local time. A nearby
rail service was also halted out of concern that a passing train
could spark leaking gas.
#BREAKING:
VIDEO: Explosion Closes Highway 99 in #Fresnohttp://t.co/5xihZARqzOpic.twitter.com/1UqwH3vMy2
— Worldwide Actions (@AlwaysActions) April
18, 2015