SAN BRUNO, Calif., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- State officials have ordered Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to inspect its natural gas system following last week's fatal explosion and fire in San Bruno, Calif.
The California Public Utilities Commission issued the order Sunday, directing PG&E to preserve records related to the explosion and work done on the ruptured pipeline, specifying service performed in September at the Milpitas terminal, the Los Angeles Times reported.
A high-pressure natural gas line exploded in the San Francisco suburb Thursday, igniting a fire that killed at least four people and destroyed 37 homes.
PG&E said in a statement it would "comply fully with any actions directed by the CPUC." The utility said it didn't find any problems when it inspected the San Bruno pipeline in March.
Commission President Michael Peevey said PG&E's process for investigating leaks will be examined, as will its annual budgets to determine how much money allocated for leak detection was spent.
PG&E President Chris Johns said at a news conference Monday the company will establish a relief fund of as much as $100 million for people affected by the explosion and fire. Company officials said checks of as much as $50,000 could be distributed this week for immediate relief needs and the funds will also help the city of San Bruno rebuild streets and other public areas, the Times said.
Police have begun allowing residents who live at least a block away from the blast epicenter to return home.
Emil and Lisa Mathews returned to their home soon after search teams with cadaver-sniffing dogs departed, the Times reported.
"I feel very blessed," Lisa Mathews said, "but six houses down everything is gone."
"Something changed here when this happened," Maria Orrante, who lived on and off in the neighborhood for 40 years, told the Times. "People that you haven't seen around the corner for 10, 15 years, now we're all coming together. It's like we're all family."
