Overview
- A third-party construction crew working on East Lewelling Boulevard in Ashland damaged an underground PG&E gas line at about 7:35 a.m., according to the utility.
- PG&E reports gas was leaking at multiple locations; crews stopped the flow by roughly 9:25 a.m., and a large explosion followed about 10 minutes later, triggering a three-alarm fire.
- Six people were transported to hospitals, with at least one in serious condition, and at least three buildings on two properties sustained significant damage.
- Roughly 75 firefighters responded as evacuations and road closures were ordered, including nearby surface streets and an Interstate 238 off-ramp.
- The NTSB is sending a team to investigate, PG&E and local agencies have launched their own probes, and two people initially reported unaccounted for were later found.