At Least 11 People Injured in California Gas Explosion
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MattGush/iStock/Thinkstock(FRESNO, Calif.) — At least 11 people were injured in a gas explosion near a gun range on Friday in Fresno, California.
Fresno County Fire Chief Kerri Donnis said in a news conference late Friday at least 11 people were injured.
Donnis added that firefighters were quickly able to contain a fire that broke out shortly after the blast.
“There is residual gas, which does cause some flames, but it is contained,” she said.
Fresno County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Tonni Botti said a worker struck a gas line around 2:30 p.m. local time, causing the explosion and resulting fire.
#update #correction #GasExplosion. Total of 11 people injured. 3 inmates were taken back to Fresno County Jail & were never hospitalized.
— Fresno Co Sheriff (@FresnoSheriff) April 18, 2015
The blast shut down portions of Highway 99, a busy California highway, for several hours.
“Initially when this thing broke out, we were getting reports of flames shooting anywhere from 70 to 100 feet in the air,” Botti said..
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