SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - At least one home was destroyed and two were damaged on Monday by a massive fire in a suburban area near a shopping center in San Jose.
Multiple news outlets reported that three suburban homes were burned about three blocks from Westgate Shopping Center. No injuries were reported, and the cause of the blaze has not been determined, authorities said.
Crews first arrived at the fire just before 3 p.m.
KNTV-TV (https://bit.ly/1jWmGvq ) reported that 12 people had been evacuated.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. spokesman Greg Snapper told The Associated Press that the fire also damaged a gas meter, causing a gas leak.
“We’re allowing it to burn until we can get it shut down by PG&E,” said San Jose Fire Department spokesman Cleo Doss. “If we put it out and it starts to build gas in the area, then there’s a possibility of explosion.”
It appeared that the cause of the fire was unrelated to PG&E equipment, Snapper said. “Oftentimes the heat from fire can damage utility equipment - that appears to be the case here.”
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