Anniversary: San Bruno pipeline blast, what one family is doing
SAN BRUNO, Calif. -- San Francisco residents were reminded in top news that yesterday, September 9, 2011, was the one year anniversary of the San Bruno fire and explosion.
The San Bruno fire was the deadliest pipeline accident in a decade, says local San Francisco station, KTVU Channel 2 News.
"It was a horrific incident and one this city will never forget," says San Francisco resident Jay Lawson.
San Bruno is a neighboring town to San Francisco.
Only recently was a decision made as to who was to blame for the explosion. (See that article here: SF learns: San Bruno explosion, who got the blame? ...)
Hundreds of San Bruno residents gathered yesterday at local Skyline College to remember those who had died in the San Bruno pipeline explosion.
The Sept. 9, 2010 explosion killed eight people, injured dozens more and set off a fireball that ruined 38 homes in the bedroom community of San Bruno, which today still bears scars from the tragedy.
Now, one local mother, whose daughter died in the tragedy, is doing something about it.
As she still mourns her daughter, Rene Morales is setting up a nonprofit to fight for strict controls over high-pressure gas lines that run below people's homes across the country.
Jessica Morales, age 20, daughter of Rene Morales, was killed when the transmission line exploded beside her boyfriend's home. That explosion sent a tower of flames across 15 acres of San Bruno and left behind a deep crater that still gapes at the bottom of the street.
Rene Morales tells press that she still holds on to her daughter's memory closely. She has left Jessica's bedroom curtains drawn just as they were the fateful afternoon Jessica left. Rene says Jessica's spirit still propels her.
"I still long for Jessica, and only wish I had the opportunity to nurse her back to health," says a tearful Rene Morales, age 42.
"We just want to make a difference. We don't want Jessica's death to be in vain. We don't want any other family to feel this loss for something that could be avoided."
Rene has now filed papers to set up the Gas Pipe Safety Foundation with the California Secretary of State.
See slide show here of dramatic pictures of the San Bruno fire and explosion.
San Francisco residents are learning that the new nonprofit will "raise awareness through major publicity campaigns, advocate with state and federal lawmakers and build alliances with victims of other blasts," says Rene Morales, who will be the foundation's executive director.
Jessica Morales, who had hoped one day to become a fashion journalist, had been visiting her boyfriend, Joseph Ruigomez, to watch the first NFL game of the season.
When the first explosion hit, the couple tried to get out of the house, but the second explosion engulfed them. Jessica Morales died and Ruigomez spent five months in hospital receiving treatment for third-degree burns.
According to KTVU Channel 2 News, Joseph's father James Ruigomez, said his son was still suffering from lasting physical and emotional injuries.
Ruigomez said his family would do whatever they could to prevent other pipeline disasters.
"We want to make sure no other family in the world has to suffer this kind of loss," stated Ruigomez.
See here for stunning after-the-fire photos and what is left in San Bruno
As well as the meeting in the local community college that was held on Friday, the San Bruno community will get together again on Sunday--the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks--in a park close by. City Mayor, Jim Ruane, hopes that this will serve as some kind of therapy for the San Bruno residents.
See photos on the left-hand side. See heart-wrenching video on the left-hand side of survivors Allen and Cindy Braun who say they will never move back.
Source: KTVU
See these related articles by this Examiner:
Breaking news of the San Bruno fire.
San Bruno explosion: residents had smelled gas days before
Horrific flames engulf San Bruno homes completely (video)
San Bruno, California, fire, explosion, update: looting arrest
San Bruno fire, explosion, no evidence of gas leak complaints
San Bruno, explosion, fire, PG&E possibly unable to cover damages
San Bruno: heroes saved elderly, gas leak likely (photos, video)
San Francisco mourns loss Jacqueline and Janessa Greig after San Bruno fire
San Bruno, California fire explosion, somebody stealing gas? (photos)
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