2-Alarm Fire Sparked When Car Crashes Into San Jose Home
SAN JOSE (CBS SF) -- An teen behind the wheel of an alleged stolen car, crashed into a home in South San Jose late Friday night, severed a gas line and set off a fire that destroyed one house and damaged another, a fire captain said.
The blaze was reported at 11:55 p.m. near the corner of Bluefield and Vistapark drives.
According to police, an officer spotted the vehicle driving without headlights and tried to pull the car over.
The driver sped off and a chase ensued.
San Jose fire Capt. Scott Ackemann said the teen lost control of the four-door sedan and barreled into at least one of the homes, rupturing the gas line and starting the fire.
There were four people in one of the houses at the time of the accident and one person in the second home. All heard the crash and got out safely before the fire spread, he said.
Fire crews arrived in six minutes but initially had trouble stopping the flow of gas because the line broke at a spot beyond where the shutoff valve is, rendering the valve useless, Ackemann said.
"The gas was a big concern, there was free-flowing gas," he said.
The flames destroyed one home and caused significant damage to the other, he said.
A firefighter suffered a minor leg injury and was taken to a hospital, Ackemann said.
A teen who was inside the car also suffered minor injuries and was taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, he said.
Some pet fish in one house survived and a dog in a kennel at the other home was also safe, he said.
PG&E and police also responded to the scene.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco and Bay City News Service. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
