PG&E fined $26 million for 2008 explosion
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Firefighters assist a PG&E crew dig out a pipe near a home that exploded Wednesday afternoon. At least six people were injured this afternoon - three of them critically - by a residential explosion on Paiute Way between Kachina and Calle del Sol ways, officials said. December 24, 2008 -
Sacrameno Metro firefighters stand by a home that exploded Wednesday afternoon, December 24, 2008. At least six people were injured this afternoon - three of them critically - by a residential explosion on Paiute Way between Kachina and Calle del Sol ways, officials said. -
Tim Anderson, left, looks toward the area were a home exploded on Paiute Way on Wednesday afternoon December 24, 2008. Anderson, who said he lives two homes away from the explosion, was joined by neighbors. -
Captain Calvin Howard, left, and Bill Woodward, with Folsom fire department, take a break after fighting a fire at a home that exploded Wednesday, afternoon, December 24, 2008. At least six people were injured this afternoon - three of them critically - by a residential explosion on Paiute Way between Kachina and Calle del Sol ways, officials said. -
A teddy bear and flowers hang on a fence at the home of Wilbert Paana, 72, who died from injuries suffered in an explosion on Paiute Way Wednesday. Ten-year-old Stephanie Garcia placed the teddy bear on Thursday, December 25, 2008, at the site saying she felt the need to do something after the explosion that she felt at her home nearby. -
At least three people were injured this afternoon, December 24, 2008, by an explosion near Kachina and Paiute ways in Rancho Cordova, officials said. Nearby residences were being evacuated because of a natural gas leak. The victims suffered third-degree burns, police said. There were no reports of fatalities. The blast happened about 1:40 p.m. and involved a few houses, officials said. Authorities are not sure if the houses were involved in the explosion or if were hit by debris or caught fire from the blast, said Sacramento County sheriff's Capt. Scott Jones. -
Tim Anderson, left, an unidentified man walk past the ruins of a home destroyed after an explosion Wednesday in Rancho Cordova. Anderson who lives a couple of houses away from the accident was helping board up neighboring houses Thursday, December 25, 2008 that were damaged on on Paiute Way. -
Stephanie Garcia, 10, of Rancho Cordova, places a teddy bear she got for Christmas at a home that was leveled after an explosion Wednesday afternoon. Stephanie said that she knew a 17-year-old girl who lived at the home and left her a note wishing her well and a Merry Christmas on Thursday, December 25, 2008. -
Stephanie Sklomeite, (cq) looks at the destruction near the home of her her parents, Al and Luci Lopez, on Thursday, December 25, 2008. Sklomeite, said that her mother was in the garage five minutes before the explosion destroyed her neighors home on Wednesday. "She was knocked off her bed when the explosion happened." The Lopez' and daughter Gigi spent the night at Sklomeite's home. -
A motorcyclist and his passenger make their way past a home on Paiute Way in Rancho Cordova on Thursday, December 25, 2008 a day after a home was leveled by a natural gas explosion. -
Neighbors gather on a corner near the scene of the explosion Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
The home to the right of the leveled house was heavily damaged by the explosion Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
Firefighters use their hose to put out a hot spot Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
A firefighter hoses down a hot spot Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
Firefighters take an injured man to a waiting ambulance Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
A PG&E gas sniffer was apparently being used to check the gas leak Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. It was blown into the street from the force of the explosion. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
A window frame was blown across the street when the home exploded Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
Sacramento Metro Fire Captain Adam House stands near the home which was leveled by a gas explosion Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2008. A gas leak at a Rancho Cordova home on Paiutte Way resulted in a massive explosion which leveled a home and damaged two neighboring homes. Six people were injured (three critically) including a Sacramento Metro firefighter. The exact cause is under investigation. -
Cheryl Bullock leaves the meeting in frustration after she spoke out at the meeting that no one was taking accountability as to what happened. She had paperwork with her that showed her stove had a leak and was shut down today. She says she lived five houses from the explosion and is scared. Residents of Rancho Cordova attend a meeting regarding the Gas Explosion at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Tuesday December 30, 2008. Cheryl cell number 916-670-2482. -
Tim Anderson , center with hat, who called 911 when his neighbor's home exploded listens as questions are answered at a community meeting at the Rancho Cordova City Hall. Residents of Rancho Cordova attend a meeting regarding the Gas Explosion at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Tuesday December 30, 2008. -
Bill Hayes VP of Energy Delivery of PG&E responds to questions with Mayor of Rancho Cordova Dan Skoglund at right. Residents of Rancho Cordova attend a meeting regarding the Gas Explosion at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Tuesday December 30, 2008. -
Cheryl Bullock throws her hands up in frustration as she said no one was taking accountability as to what happened. She had paperwork with her that showed her stove had a gas leak and was shut down today. She says she lived five houses from the explosion and is scared. Residents of Rancho Cordova attend a meeting regarding the Gas Explosion at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Tuesday December 30, 2008. Cheryl cell number 916-670-2482. -
Marisha Thompson and her daughter Ainsley Thompson, 17 weeks old and live in the neighborhood where the explosion occured listen to officials speak about the incident. Residents of Rancho Cordova attend a meeting regarding the Gas Explosion at Rancho Cordova City Hall on Tuesday December 30, 2008. Their home was 10 houses away from the explosion and had their kitchen window blown-in. -
At least three people were injured this afternoon by an explosion near Kachina and Paiute ways in Rancho Cordova, officials said. Nearby residences were being evacuated because of a natural gas leak. The victims suffered third-degree burns, police said. There were no reports of fatalities. The blast happened about 1:40 p.m. and involved a few houses, officials said. Authorities are not sure if the houses were involved in the explosion or if were hit by debris or caught fire from the blast, said Sacramento County sheriff's Capt. Scott Jones. December 24, 2008 -
Karl Gunther, a National Transposition Safety Board Investigator walks out of a fenced area were a home was destroyed last Wednesday as he begins his investigation into what caused the explosion. -
A PG&E worker marks the ground on Monday, December 29, 2008 were a home exploded last Wednesday at Paiute Way after an explosion last Wednesday on Monday, December 29, 2008 in Rancho Cordova. Karl Gunther, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator said that they were checking the gas presure. -
On Thursday, December 25, 2008, a sign taped on a truck warns people of the unsafe conditions at a home destroyed by an explosion Wednesday at Paiute Way in Rancho Cordova. -
A vehicle that was in the garage of a home that exploded Wednesday in Rancho Cordova is one of the few recognizable items on Thursday, December 25, 2008. One person was killed from injuries in the explosion. -
Michael Vanness, of Sacramento, helps his fiance Stephanie Skomeite take some Christmas presents and other belongings from the home of Luci and Al Lopez, on Thursday, December 25, 2008 in Rancho Cordova. The Lopez' live next to a home that was destroyed in the explosion on Paiute Way Wednesday. -
Pete Stillson, left and wife Diane, visit the site were a neighbor's home was destroyed Wednesday. They are with Diane's sister Jane Selva Thursday, December 25, 2008. Stillson said he is a Vietnam veteran and the explosion reminded him of an attack in 1967 where "over 100 rockets were sent in our base and when they exploded it reminded me of the explosion of this house right here. It wasn't the loudness that got to you, it was the concusion part and the fact that you wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of that. It'll tear you up."
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