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11:27 AM: Four victims from the San Bruno gas explosion and fire on Thursday night are still in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital today, a hospital spokeswoman said.
Five patients were admitted to the hospital last night, but one was not severely injured and has been discharged, hospital spokeswoman Rachael Kagan said.
Of the three female patients and one male patient still at the hospital, two are being treated for burns and two for smoke inhalation, Kagan said.
Four people have been confirmed dead from the fire, which destroyed at least 38 homes in a residential area near San Bruno Avenue and Skyline Boulevard Thursday night.
11:21 AM: The American Red Cross is holding a briefing for victims of Thursday’s explosion and fire in San Bruno to advise them of what services are available and what they will need to do in the coming days and weeks.
The briefing, tentatively scheduled around noon, will take place at the Veterans Memorial Recreation Center, located at 251 City Park Way.
Authorities will give victims information about what forms they need to fill out and what services are available while they figure out whether their homes have been damaged or destroyed in the blaze.
The Red Cross has assisted several hundred people in various capacities since the fire began at about 6:15 p.m. Thursday, according to spokesman Steve Sharp.
Nearly 30 of those people stayed in a shelter overnight at the recreation center, Sharp said.
A second shelter is located adjacent to the recreation center at the senior center. The Red Cross is also providing an evacuation center, located at the Bayhill Shopping Center at the intersection of San Bruno Avenue and Cherry Street.
Sharp said the organization’s assistance with the victims “will be going on for some time. Days, maybe weeks.”
For information on how to donate to the Red Cross, visit www.redcrossbayarea.org or call (888) 4-HELP-BAY.
People wishing to donate items in person are asked to take them to the First Tongan United Methodist Church, located at 560 El Camino Real in San Bruno.
“We are absolutely buried with donations here, so we would prefer if people don’t bring gifts to the evacuation center or shelter,” Sharp said.
PG&E is also hosting an employee blood drive today at its headquarters, located at 77 Beale St.
10:38 AM: The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced today it has authorized federal funds to help local and state firefighters battle the San Bruno fire.
The authorization allows FEMA to reimburse 75 percent of eligible firefighting costs, including for equipment and supplies, evacuations and sheltering, police barricades and traffic control, FEMA said in a statement.
The remaining 25 percent would be paid by individual jurisdictions and the state.
The authorization was approved late Thursday night, according to FEMA spokesman John Hamill.
“Our hearts go out to the residents of San Bruno in the wake of this horrific fire,” said Nancy Ward, FEMA regional administrator, in a statement.
“I want to assure them and our local and state partners that FEMA is here to make sure that California has the resources needed to fight this fire, and that the federal government will remain with the state every step of the way,” Ward said.
10:34 AM: Insurance companies today are moving to assist victims of the San Bruno fire.
Those whose homes or cars are damaged or destroyed by the fire are asked to contact their insurers as soon as possible, according to the nonprofit Insurance Information Network of California.
Residents are asked to make a list of damaged or destroyed property, and those who have been evacuated should provide current contact information to their insurers.
Farmers Insurance is sending mobile claims vehicles to the San Bruno area. The vehicles are expected to arrive Saturday morning.
The vehicles will also provide phones and laptops for victims to use, as well as water, food and supplies for customers and non-customers, the insurance company said.
Farmers Insurance customers should call the company’s 24-hour claims hotline at (800) 435-7764. Spanish speakers can call (877) 732-5266.
Foremost Insurance customers can call (800) 527-3907 and 21st Century Insurance customers can call (888) 244-6163.
Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, said that insured losses from the disaster could reach into the tens of millions of dollars.
