Firefighters battled a deadly gas-fueled blaze Friday that engulfed dozens of homes and sent fireballs shooting into the air in a neighborhood near the San Francisco airport.

"It looks like a bomb went off, " said Abel Maldonado, California's lieutenant governor. "I saw debris everywhere. It was a huge explosion. I am shocked. This is a horrible tragedy that hit San Bruno."

At least three people died in the fire, according to Dena Gunning of the San Bruno Fire Department.

Pacific Gas and Electric spokesman Blair Jones said Friday that its gas transmission line ruptured, leading to the blaze. The cause of the rupture was still under investigation.

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