Pipeline explodes in San Bernardino

Marina Karasik. April 19th, 2017.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.- A pipeline exploded at 8:11 a.m. in the neighborhood of

Duffy Street and Highland Ave. So far, there have been two reported fatalities. Seven burn
victims have been admitted to the San Bernardino County Medical Center, their conditions are
currently not available.

The explosion is believed to have been caused by the Calnev Pipeline. According to David
Andries, an official of the Calnev gas company, the explosion was caused by a rupture of the 14
inch pipeline. The pipeline, which is located six feet underground, sprayed fuel on the nearby
houses when it ruptured.

We dont know the cause of the break. It could have been the train, obviously, Andries
explains.

Two weeks ago, a 69 car runaway freight train derailed in the same neighborhood as the
explosion occurred. The train incident killed four people, two crew members and two children in
one of the homes. The explosion might be a result of the damages from the train incident.

San Bernardino City Attorney Jim Penman, who toured the area this morning via helicopter,
explained that the experts who examined the pipeline after the railroad incident said that there
would be no danger.

So far, about 700 people have been evacuated to the Red Cross evacuation center at the Job
Corps Center on 3753 Kerry St. Vans and buses are being used to aid in the evacuation.

The grass was burning- green grass burning. Everything was burning, even the concrete.
Stewart said.

We were sitting at the table and we heard this loud noise, and it just started getting bigger.
says Bill Stewart, an insurance agent. Stewart was visiting a client on Donald Street at the time
of the explosion.
I ran to the window and looked out and could see nothing but smoke; then we both hit the
floor. Stewart said he and his client, Martha Franklin, tried to wait for the noise to blow over, but
headed for the door when it didnt go away. They opened the door to find nothing but smoke.

Robbie Brown of 2327 Duffy Street ran out of her house just as it blew up behind her. Inside
were three of her relatives.

I felt my whole house shake. I thought it was an earthquake. said Miretta Brumlow, who is a
student at San Bernardino Valley College. Then I looked out and I saw the fire and I just started
crying. I ran to the bedroom and hot my daughter and grandson out, then started looking for my
pets, and then I just had to get out. Everything I own was in that house.

Brumlow hasnt gone to class since the railroad incident since shes been too afraid to leave her
children at home.

Thank God I didnt go to my class at eight oclock this morning. Brumlow said.

The Calnev Pipeline is a 550- mile pipeline running from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. The
pipeline is owned by Kinder Morgan Energy Partners and carries refined oil products, including
unleaded gasoline. The pipeline has two parallel lines, one with a diameter of 14 inches and the
other with a diameter of 8 inches.

In 1980, the Calnev Pipeline ruptured near the Las Vegas Valley, near Tropicana Avenue. The
pipeline spilled fuel for two hours, spilling between 50,000 to 100,000 gallons of fuel. The fuel
then ignited and forced roads to close. Construction in the area was suspected to have
damaged the pipeline, causing the incident.

According to Calnev Pipeline General Manager Jed Robinson, the pipeline can carry more than
3.3 million gallons of fuel, gasoline and diesel through the 14 inch pipeline daily.

With that kind of volatile fuel, you have to use some sort of foam. Normally where there is not
an awful lot of fuel, you just contain it and try to let it burn out. says Robinson. Although this
was not the case with todays events.
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