Dick
P) 402-5903
E) D2atHOME@aol.com

Thanks so much for your thoughtful reply – I appreciate it. I really don’t know the scope of possible reasons, but methane was the one I was most suspecting too, for the same reasons which you state. But wouldn’t it have shown up in that report that was brought to last night’s meeting? I didn’t read it but my impression from the discussion is that it was a non issue.

Sorry for the delay in approving your comments – due to spam issues I have to moderate comments so that I don’t have bots filling my pages with ads about sports apparel or designer bags etc. I just happened to be away from the computer for awhile….

Thanks again!

Mary

1. While PG&E is easy to dis-trust & dis-like, (Load knows there’s sufficient cause), I don’t think this had anything to do with a gas leak from their service. Had that been the case, the fire would have continued unabated until the gas supply was shut off. While some petroleum-based hydrocarbons of the type found in turpentine, paint thinner, etc. were found in the soil samples, I don’t find that unusual in our urban/do it yourself community & The “Panel of Experts” stated they they ruled this out as being the culprit.

By my lights, that leaves only one likely cause…methane gas that had accumulated in a sub-soil pocket, possibly over some extended period of time. With sufficient compression, when egnited it could easily have had the concussive force and fireball that was experienced. Also, once consumed, there would be no more gas to support the fire & it would self-extengiush. I think a likely suspect source would be a leak in the sewer line coming from the house.

2. Going forward, I think we should push for the Town of Los Gatos &/or the County to take leadership position in getting closurer on this. Except for the initial reactive performance of the Town & County 1st responders, (which was super, in my view) Both levels of local government have been remiss by their lack of proactivity. They did not, (still haven’t) take any action to keep concerned homeowners informed, nor did they demonstrate any initiative in comissioning a professional forensic investigation sufficient to establish probable cause & remedial recommendation. To use your words, “We deserve better” & we should demand no less.

Thanks for taking the time to comment. It has gotten virtually no press, surprisingly. I was out walking my dog when it happened and the explosion was so loud that I couldn’t even imagine what it was – much worse than when a transformer blows. The neighbors are all very concerned about something like the Cupertino fire from the pinhole leaks in the PG & E gas line or worse, what happened with the San Bruno fire. Doesn’t seem to be anything of that magnitude, but as long as it’s undiagnosed, it remains scary.

Hope all’s well with you….

Mary