1. “UndergroundExplosion”
ClaudiaLamb,Producer& Writer
June 5, 2009
2009 Winnerof the AP Mark Twain Award forBest Live NewsCoverage
2009 Winnerof the AP Mark Twain Awardfor Best SpotNewsCoverage
We have BreakingNewsinthe KGORadioNewsroom:
An undergroundexplosion inaPacificGas& Electricvaultinthe Tenderloin hasleftthousandswithout
powerandpassengerstrappedinelevators - andflamesshooting50 feetintothe air.
It all startedinthe 11 o’clockhour,whenlocal residentsandofficeworkersnoticed intermittentsmoke
comingfrommanhole coversandstreetdrainsaroundthe intersectionof PolkandO’Farrell Streets.
Althoughthe fire departmentwascalled, they wereunable tofindany smoke andleftthe scene.
At 11:35 an explosionrockedthe undergroundvault,sending4manhole coversflyingacrossthe
intersection. Noone washitby the covers,whichweigh 300 lbs.each.
For the last 80 minutesflameshave beenshooting40to 50 feetinthe air fromthe vault,burning
electrical equipmentand sendingthick, black,noxious smoke overthe area. Nobuildingsare threatened
by the fire at thistime.
P-G & E spokespersonJoe MolicatellsKGORadiothatthe explosionhappenedin the undergroundvault
on O’Farrell Street. It’stooearlytosaywithcertaintywhat causedthe blast,but Molicasays P-G& E
crewsare on the scene workingwithfirefighterstoextinguishthe blaze. Crewsare tryingtosuffocate
the flameswithfoam,butsofar withno luck.
San FranciscoFire DepartmentChief MindyTalmidge says there are noreportsof any injuries, butthere
isa Shelter-In-Placedue tothe toxicnature of the smoke.Police are holdingautoandpedestriantraffic
ina 2 block radius.
Talmidge alsotellsusthat dozensof office workersare stuckinelevatorsdue tothe poweroutage.
Crewsare workingtofree them.
P-G & E’s Molicasays more than 8,000 customersare withoutpower.A customerisconsideredan
individualbuilding,notthe numberof usersinthe building. Thereisnoestimate astowhenpowerwill
be restored.
Thisis the fifthundergroundexplosion inSanFrancisco inthe last 8 years.The mostsevere explosion
happenedinthe Financial Districtin2005, whichsetpedestrianLindaNashonfire,criticallyinjuringher.
