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Crime & Safety

Albany Firefighters Help Protect Homes in San Bruno Fire

A five-engine strike team from Alameda County included a unit from Albany.

An Albany fire crew helped fight fire in San Bruno on Thursday night when a gas explosion led to a large fire near San Bruno Avenue and Skyline Boulevard.

Officials said a 24" high pressure PG&E natural gas line ruptured about 6 p.m., causing the blaze.

According to Albany Fire Department Batallion Chief Brian Crudo, authorities have reported 52 injuries, including 39 victims who sought hospital care. Though fatalities have been reported in the media, there has been no confirmation from the San Mateo County Coroner at this time.

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About 6:30 p.m., Alameda County dispatchers called for a five-engine strike team from the county, said Crudo. Firefighters from Albany, Alameda, Berkeley, Camp Parks and Livermore-Pleasanton responded to San Bruno.

"This Strike Team... fought fire in the effected neighborhoods and provided structure protection," Crudo wrote in his report about the incident. "Albany Fire Crew was Lt. Boito, Engineer deRoque and Agee."

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Read more from Crudo's report below.

Per the Cal EMA Fire Duty Officer:
* The fire is currently 75 percent contained at 15 acres.
* An Incident Command Post (ICP) was established at Glenview and San Bruno Ave., in San Bruno.
* There are zero (0) firefighter injures reported at this time.
* Cal EMA Fire Chiefs are on-scene.
* Fire and rescue resources are in rotation/rehab this morning.
* The total number of assigned resources is not currently available.
* Actions planned for today consists of rotation of initial attack fire personnel, conduct/complete primary & secondary searches and extinguishment and mop-up of the fire.
* FEMA approved the Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) at 2234 hours on September 9th.

Resources on scene as of 09/09/10 at 2200 hrs:
* San Mateo Operational Area (OA) has 25-35 single resources IA engines, trucks, water tenders
* 2 Strike Team Alameda (10 engines)
* 2 Strike Teams San Francisco (10 engines)
* 25 engines CAL Fire
* 2 Strike teams Dozers (4)

Structures Destroyed/Damaged
* There are 38 destroyed structures
* There are 7 damaged structures
* There are 50 threatened structures
* There are 250 residences impacted

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