Gas Blast

[Sasquatch Jim]

 In Seattle, just a few blocks from the Guzzi dealer.  Anybody know the details?

 http://www.cnn.com/2016/03/09/us/seattle-explosion/

[travelingbyguzzi]

Only know what we here on the news, Jim. Firefighters were investigating a natural gas leak when something sparked it off. Some injuries, no deaths. 3 or 4 buildings leveled, small businesses I am told, including a very good Mexican restaurant. Window glass blown out up to a couple blocks away.
Now, on to our next disaster.

[oldbike54]

 Bill , losing a good Mexican restaurant is a disaster  Glad there were no fatalities .

 Dusty

[Sasquatch Jim]

 
 When I was 13 one night the TV blinked off and on as the house shook. A couple of seconds later a mighty blast was heard. We went outside and saw
the glow of a large fire up on the hill to the east. We drove up but were stopped a block away watching the fire dept. work.
Next day I bicycled up and found that the hardware store and the very large two story brick house next to it were gone, leveled by the blast.
Seven people had been killed including the store owner who had been opening the door when the blast blew the building apart. His body had been
blown across the street and been stopped in flight by the gas pumps at the filling station. His car was parked in front of the store, and was also blown into the filling station. The other fatalities had been in the house.
It was determined that a gas pipe had leaked inside the store and since no one was there had not been noticed. ( The blast occurred about 8 or 9 PM)
It is believed that the store owner was in the doorway and had clicked a light switch that initiated the blast. It was my first time ever for an event like this and I was amazed at how much our own house shook since the blast was a mile away.
Comparing that to the Seattle blast, I am amazed that none of the fire fighters on scene were killed.
 They must not have been in the building where it first blew.  Also they may have been wearing the right protective gear.  But I'll bet their ears rung something awful.

[George_S]

When I was in high school, a classmate and good friend's house exploded from a gas leak. The entire house lifted up and plopped down in one piece but somewhat askew on the front lawn. His mother was standing at the sink, and after the explosion the sink and under counter cabinets were still there, and she was too, very much alive!

Proving that when it's not your time to go....

[Cross-tie Walker]

Don't quote me on this but I think "Gorditos" is going to be OK. Other than their back deck which seems to be affected..the front and main building appears intact . (It's on 85th rather than Greenwood where the blast came from.) I hope so. Its a great dive of a Mexican restaurant! Sorry for the 3 other businesses, and all the mayhem in the area, but so far it appears no one was seriously hurt.
We live about 2 miles north, but are in the area quite a lot