On September 9, 2010, an explosion of an 30-inch natural gas
pipeline rocked a residential neighborhood in San Bruno,
California. The tremendous blast and following blaze killed at
least seven people and destroyed 53 homes. Firefighters
overwhelmed by the intense heat from the 60-foot inferno could
only try to keep flames from spreading to other homes until
utility workers managed to shut down the gas main an hour and a
half later. It is unclear what caused the explosion, although
residents reported smelling gas prior to the blast. An
investigation into the cause of the explosion may take up to a
year. Natural gas is an important part of America’s energy
infrastructure, and deadly explosions such as this are uncommon.
In this week’s online current events activity you will learn
more about natural gas, how we collect and distribute it, and
how we use it. All About Natural Gas It’s easy to confuse the
term “natural gas” with our short form of the word gasoline. In
fact, they are very different. To learn what na