APRIL 19, 2015
FRESNO, CALIFORNIA (AP)
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. says a gas pipeline that
exploded in Central California had been inspected twice in April for gas leaks,
and no leaks were found.
PG&E said Sunday that its crews did a ground survey of
the pipe on April 1, and an aerial survey on April 16. The utility has said a
vehicle damaged the pipeline.
Authorities say Friday's explosion on a Fresno County
Sheriff's gun range occurred while a county equipment operator was building up
a dirt berm. PG&E said it detected a drop in pressure in the line seven
minutes before it received a report of the explosion.
The blast sent 11 people to the hospital, four of them with
critical injuries
The question that remains is whether the inmates were operating
the equipment or whether it was actually a non-inmate licensed operator who
broke the line.