State of emergency declared as gas explosion hits San Francisco suburb

Fire crews battled to douse the remnants of an enormous blaze and account for the residents of dozens of homes after a gas line ruptured and an explosion ripped through in a neighborhood near San Francisco, killing at least six people.

• A fire department helicopter and fire engines tackle the blaze caused by a gas main explosion in San Bruno Getty

Senator Leyland Yee said more than 50 people were hurt, and three victims were suffering critical burns after the blaze that enveloped the San Bruno neighbourhood in hills overlooking San Francisco, the bay and the airport.

The explosion in the early hours of yesterday was heard for miles and shot a fireball more than 1,000 feet in the air and sent frightened residents fleeing for safety and rushing to get belongings out of burning homes.

After the initial blast, flames reached as high as 100 feet as the fire fuelled itself on burning homes, leaving some in total ruins and reducing parked cars to burned out hulks. At least 38 homes were destroyed and dozens more seriously damaged.

California officials declared a state of emergency in the area.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. said yesterday a damaged section of a 30-inch steel gas pipeline had been isolated and gas flow had been stopped.