Gas Co. Faulted in Fatal Calif. Blast
RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif. --
A fatal 2008 natural gas blast in Rancho Cordova was apparently caused by the use of an out-of-specification pipe and a nearly three-hour delay in the arrival of a Pacific Gas and Electric crew properly trained to deal with gas leaks, according to a final National Transportation Safety Board report.
At 1:35 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2008, an explosion and fire caused by a gas leak destroyed a house at 10708 Paiute Way.
One person suffered fatal injuries, and five other people, including one utility employee and one firefighter, were hospitalized as a result of the explosion.
Two adjacent homes, one on either side, received severe damage, and several homes suffered minor damage.
PG&E said Friday it is has worked to find the root cause of the accident and put in place improved processes and safeguards.
"From the very beginning, PG&E has been committed to doing the right thing for those most impacted by this tragic event," the utility said in a prepared statement.
Field service representatives have been trained, qualified and given gas detector equipment, in addition to the indoor natural gas detectors they previously carried, to conduct outdoor leak investigations and grade outdoor leaks, PG&E said.
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