Calif. gas official says crews still can’t determine cause of explosion, blaze that killed 4

Gas official says explosion cause still not clear

SAN BRUNO, Calif. — A gas official in California says crews still haven’t been able to determine that cause of a giant blast and fire that killed at least four people in a San Francisco suburb because they still haven’t been able to get to the source.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. President Chris Johns said Friday morning that a 30-inch gas pipe ruptured about three feet underground. He said PG&E has no record of its crews working in that area at the time.

Johns says they’ve heard reports that some residents smelled gas in the area before the blast.

He says they haven’t confirmed that.