By Demian Bulwa
San Francisco Chronicle (California)
Copyright 2006 San Francisco Chronicle
All Rights Reserved
An explosion during a fire injured five firefighters and a police officer Sunday in downtown San Jose, authorities said.
Firefighters responding at 1:16 a.m. to the 200 block of Edwards Avenue found a single-story home in flames, San Jose fire Capt. Anthony Pianto said. The gas main, too, had ignited.
The gas was turned off, but about an hour after the firefighters arrived, they were knocked off their feet by an explosion caused by fumes, he said. The police officer was standing outside but was also injured.
Fire crews then backed off as Pacific Gas and Electric Co. capped its gas line on both ends of the block. About a dozen homes were evacuated before firefighters returned to put out the blaze about 9:30 a.m., Pianto said.
The causes of the fire and the gas leak are under investigation. The firefighters and the police officer suffered minor injuries, though one firefighter remained hospitalized late Sunday as a precaution, Pianto said.