The Latest: NTBS to investigate San Francisco gas explosion

SAN FRANCISCO — The Latest on a natural gas explosion in San Francisco (all times local):

10:05 a.m.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate a natural gas explosion on a San Francisco street that sent flames into the air, damaging five buildings and sending panicked residents into the streets.

NTSB spokesman Eric Weiss said Thursday that an eight-person team will travel to San Francisco and that it will release information as it becomes available.

City fire officials say a crew digging on street to install fiber-optic wires in the city’s Richmond neighbourhood cut a natural gas line Wednesday.

Flames shot above the rooftops of nearby three-story buildings and burned for more than two hours until utility workers shut off the gas fueling the fire.

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12 a.m.

A gas explosion in San Francisco shot a tower of flames into the sky and burned five buildings including one of the city’s popular restaurants before firefighters brought the blaze under control. There were no injuries.

Wednesday’s explosion and fire sent panicked residents and workers in the city’s Inner Richmond neighbourhood fleeing into the streets as flames shot above the rooftops of nearby three-story buildings.

San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White said a private construction crew working on fiber-optic wires cut a natural gas line.

It took crews about three hours to put out the blaze.

The Associated Press