Pleasanton Firefighters Assist in San Bruno Gas Explosion

A Livermore-Pleasanton crew helped fight a fire in San Bruno Thursday night caused by a gas explosion near San Bruno Avenue and Skyline Boulevard.

Officials said a 24" high pressure PG&E natural gas line ruptured about 6 p.m., causing the blaze.

Battalion Chief Joe Testa said the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department received a call at about 7 p.m. A team of four fighters, a strike team leader and a strike team leader trainee were sent out to join four other Alameda County fire agencies from Albany, City of Alameda, Berkeley and Camp Parks.

Testa, who was at the scene, said the Pleasanton firefighters Pleasanton firefighters were assigned to a neighborhood on the 2700 block of Concord Way.

When firefighters arrived, three houses were already engulfed in flames. The Livermore-Pleasanton crew helped save some of the adjacent homes. 

Testa said the crew stayed in the area until 6 a.m. and were back in Pleasanton by 9 a.m.

A state of emergency was declared by Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado, sending state funds and resources to the area.

Testa said the magnitude and suddenness of the event reminded some senior firefighters of the 1991 Oakland Hills fire.

"It didn't hit as many homes, but the sheer devastation reminded people of that," he said.

Testa added that the response and coordination among all the agencies involved was smooth.

"I think all the agencies worked really well together," he said.

When asked about prevention for these types of fires, Testa said investigators are still trying to determine what happened. But residents can call the fire department if they smell natural gas odors in their neighborhoods, he said.

Read about the latest on the San Bruno Fire here. Find out how you can help here.

Emilie Raguso contributed to this report.