SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — An explosion caused by a gas leak ripped through an apartment building in San Francisco Monday as firefighters arrived on scene to check on a gas leak, a fire official said.
No one was injured in the blast that blew out windows and blinds and a garage door but about 100 people had to evacuate nearby buildings, Battalion Chief Rex Hale said.
He said it appears gas filled up the garage and it hit a pilot light, causing the explosion inside a three-story apartment building in the Bernal Heights neighborhood.
No one was inside the building when the explosion occurred, Hale said.
Most Read Nation & World Stories
Residents of 19 nearby apartments and homes were evacuated. Those from neighboring buildings were allowed to return Monday afternoon.
San Francisco Fire Department crews and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. employees were working to stop the gas leak.
PG&E spokeswoman Andrea Menniti said the source, location and cause of the gas leak were being investigated.