City to Escort Last of Displaced Residents To View Remains of Homes

Residents who haven't seen their homes since Thursday's explosion and fire will have a chance to do so this afternoon, city officials said.

Authorities announced details of the visits at a community meeting held this morning at the San Bruno Senior center. Families will be escorted one at a time to the "buffer zone," an area that was severely affected by the fire. Visits are expected to continue Tuesday.

"The reality is we don't have anything left," said Nelson Alvarado, who did not plan to go on the city tour to his home on 951 Glenview Drive. "Why even go?"

Alvarado, 29, had lived in the home with four other families.

"But we are thankful and glad that we're all OK," he said. "Friends and other family have been very supportive, helpful and we're blessed."

Alvarado said he has been staying in a hotel and was told at the meeting that PG&E will be helping residents find housing in the near future. The company announced earlier this morning that it is giving checks of up to $50,000 to individual fire victims.

City Manager Connie Jackson said residents whose homes were severely damaged would have an opportunity in the next few days to look through the rubble themselves before a cleanup is scheduled.

The meeting was emotional, said Jackson, noting it was the first time the neighbors were together to discuss the fire.

The buffer zone includes 84 homes that have been color tagged based on the severity of damages.

Of the homes in the zone, 49 are tagged red, which means the home has been destroyed; 10 are tagged yellow, meaning residents can enter, but not stay; and 25 are tagged green and deemed safe enough for residents to return and stay.

Maria Tovar, who lived on 1631 Claremont Drive, said the past few days have been surreal.

"It is in the back of your mind, but it just isn't clicking that you don't have anything," she said.

Tovar has been staying in a hotel with her family.

Mayor Jim Ruane said the meeting also was held to address questions and concerns residents have, adding that they were comforted to know the city planned on handling their situations on an individual basis.

"It is difficult for me to put in words how they are feeling," Ruane said.

Prior to the meeting, some residents expressed feeling frustrated and out of the loop on what has become of their homes.

Bill Magoolaghan, who lived on 1611 Claremont Drive, said before the meeting that the city had not provided him with any information on what has become of his home.

"I need a house. I need a house now," Magoolaghan said. "We want to get on with our lives and keep going."

Rondell Mangaliman, 18, who lived on 941 Glenview Drive, said he is thankful that his family is safe. However, the aftermath has been very tough.

"It feels like we're starting all over," he said. "It was a family tradition to spend every Christmas at my house. All of our memories were in that house."