Nearby highway 99. It shows the flames and smoke shooting hundreds of feet into the air. Chp had to close the highway in both directions just because of the heat. It was just too much. It all started when a backhoe accidentally ruptured that gas line. 14 people injured, 3 of them critically. And these pictures show the power of the blast. It happened at the Fresno County sheriffs gun range. They were doing work out there. Some inmates working on a project, believe that they are among those who were injured. The intensity of the fire just one of the issues for the firefighters. The terrain of where this fire is, is very difficult to get to. Its a very soft powdery dirt area. Different elevation. So we have a challenge getting around that. As we said, three people injured. Right now, thats what we know. No Law Enforcement officers though have been hurt. New at 6 00, problem cops fired only to be back on the force in a matter of weeks. A scathing new report reveals serious flaws in punishing Oakland Police officers. Kpix 5s da lin traces the trouble to city hall. Da. Reporter yeah, this report right here blasts the City Attorneys Office saying the arbitration process on the city side is a joke and embarrassments. As a result, bad cops were either suspended or fired, got rewarded with basically what amounted to a paid vacation. The independent report says in the last four years, the city lost about 75 of its arbitration cases against suspended or fired Police Officers. Those officers not only got their jobs back; they were given back pay. The report says the officers didnt win because they were right. They won because the City Attorneys Office did a horrible job and failed to spend time to fight those cases. This report was difficult to read but it is important. Reporter a federal judge overseeing the Oakland Police department ordered the report after noticing a pattern of arbitration losses like the case of officer robert roche. Opd fired him after a tossed a tear gas canister at people helping an injured protestor during an occupy protest. Its no secret to officers they will likely win in arbitration. The report says days before his hearing he posted a picture drinking with other officers at the bar. Its about time, shooters ready, stand by, it said in the post. Its a dysfunctional system where attorneys dont get enough time to prepare their case. Reporter he has argued several cases against oakland. He is shocked. The report says the City Attorney assigned cases to lawyers too close to the arbitration. And at least one instance, the deputy City Attorney showed up an hour late to the hearing and admitted she started preparing the day before. If you are not prepared, the chances are youre going to lose. Reporter the mayor promises change. She wants to hire four more people to help the City Attorney fight arbitration cases. When we dont have good discipline and accountability systems, we do harm and we have done harm. Reporter the City AttorneyBarbara Parker refused to talk on camera. She did release a statement saying she agrees with many of the recommendations in the report and that she is working to address those issues. Live at the Oakland Police department, im da lin, kpix 5. Also tonight san joses mayor says he has a solution that could save lives. And he wants to combine the fire and the Ambulance Services to speed up response times. But kpix 5s devin fehely reports, firefighters fear its only going to slow them down. Reporter the Firefighters Union says the mayors plan amounts to adding more work to a department thats already understaffed and overburdened. We are very thinly staffed. We are one of the lowest staffed departments in the nation. Reporter the mayor says the Current System this which city firefighters treat medical patients and then hand them off to a County Ambulance is inefficient and needlessly expensive. We could simply have the same firefighters or paramedics who respond initially be able to treat stabilize the patient and then take them to the hospital. Reporter but firefighters say because of budget cuts they struggle to meet basic response times. The Fire Departments goal is to respond to emergencies in eight minutes or less. But in december, january and february of this year, the Fire Department only met that goal 72 of the time meaning that three out of ten people who called 911 for help waited for more than 8 minutes. Right now were failing in arriving on time in a timely manner something that meets the expectations that is a national standard. Reporter despite opposition from the Firefighters Union, the mayor has ordered city staff to study the issue believing they can provide Better Service for less money. In san jose, devin fehely, kpix 5. City manager conduct a Feasibility Study and present his results to the city council in the fall. Danger along the coast, a warning tonight about rough waves and rip currents. Beachgoers being told to stay out of the water this weekend. Kpix 5s maria medina is live at ocean beach where even the most experienced surfers are staying away, maria . Reporter it is cold and windy here. These waves are very powerful and as you mentioned even experienced surfers say these conditions are too dangerous for them. I was out. I got one wave and came in. It was a little bit probably much for me also. Reporter even for the most experienced surfers like robert, the waves that hit ocean beach friday were too much to handle. Its a rough day. You really got to know what youre doing to go out today. I didnt think it would be coming in this late. Reporter the swell was expected to last throughout the night with waves as high as 15 feet. Its scary. Like no waves i have ever seen. Reporter with rough conditions and strong rip currents he says even surfers secondguess going into the water. I surfed hawaii and other places but this is scary. Reporter only a handful close to ride the waves friday. For here on a day like today, its not normal. Usually theres 1,000 guys out there. Reporter with knowledge of how powerful and unpredictable the ocean can be, they say beachgoers should listen to the signs and stay away. Today is probably not the day you want to go out. Reporter the swells are supposed to drop a few feet tomorrow. Watch out for the sneaker waves. I wish i was in hawaii right now. It is so cold out here which is so bizarre because its so warm on this side of San Francisco. And then on the other side of the city microclimates well get to that in a minute. Thank you, maria medina. Surf warning goes all the way down to monterey. Kpix 5s Christian Hartnett is live in santa cruz where its great beach weather. You dont even have a coat on. Reporter its amazing out here. Its absolutely gorgeous in santa cruz today. And all of that sunshine has brought a lot of people flocking to the beach today. The waves are very powerful, as well. But thats just fine with all the surfers here that are out catching those waves. Surf reports show waves reaching 10 feet and higher today. But for everyone else the strong currents and at times choppy waves are keeping them out of the water. Warnings are posted and some beachgoers in by experience to heed the warnings. I would say to watch the riptides and take heed to the warnings because there are rogue waves especially if your children are playing down by the shore to keep an eye open. Reporter lifeguards are on duty today keeping their heads on a swivel. Theres also lifeguard truck riding along the sand making sure that all the beachgoers are aware of the conditions out on the water today. Live in santa cruz, Christian Hartnett, kpix 5. Get ready, were about to find out what emergency drought measures californians will have to take. The state water board is now putting together a bunch of regulations. You have heard from some of the local water agencies. These guys plan to release them first thing tomorrow morning. The plan is in response to governor browns order at the beginning of the month. You know it. He is looking for everyone to cut back on usage by at least 25 . And cal fire is warning that this could be a difficult fire season because of the drought. We hear that every year. They have moved up the start of the fire season by two months this year. And they are going to hire another 3,000 seasonal firefighters across the state. The new hires are expected to be in place by june. There had been more than 650 wildfires already this year. Last year at this time, there were only 400. New rules tonight designed to prevent fiery crashes involving trains carrying explosive crude oil. An emergency order from the department of transportation requires trains to go no faster than 40 Miles Per Hour in urban areas. Railroads also are required to do better inspections of train wheels to make sure there are no cracks. A broken wheel is blamed for a derailment last month in illinois. As we have been reporting, several cities in the east bay have been fighting to keep crude Oil Shipments from passing through their communities. Still ahead, calls to save water along the Russian River and not just for the people who live there. You saw the cloud cover at the beach. We also have some clouds and fog making its way through the golden gate from our sausalito camera. There is a significant pattern change coming. Well talk about its impact on your weekend and well talk about when it is going to rain again. And no kitchen . No problem the unique way a famed restaurant is keeping its chefs busy and its doors open. [bulldog yawns] i cant wait to get to mattress discounters because the tempurpedic bonus event is ending soon. Choose 300 in free gifts, and get up to 48 months interestfree financing with any tempurpedic mattress. Mattress discounters every place is feeling it. Tie states drought is taking a toll on the Russian River. Tonight a new call for farms and vineyards to cut back on water that comes from the river. As don ford reports, its all to help save an endangered species. Reporter the Russian River is getting lower and lower. And the drought is putting the endangered coho salmon in more trouble. They are in danger of dying here. Reporter many farms and vineyards have permits to legally pump from the streams flowing to the river but the department of fish and wildlife is now asking for cutbacks. You need 500 to continue your business but try to take 450 and see what happens. Maybe you can do and feel better about helping a coho salmon survive. Reporter its a voluntary program not an order. And many landowners already use technology to limit water use and dont know how much more they can save. And not everyone taking the water is doing it legally. We came across just yesterday, you know, a 10 or 12 pipe with a v8 motor attached to it into the creek sucking water out. So thats not okay reporter for the moment, there is still water available but the temperature is rising and the water level is dropping and biologists say the number of dead coho salmon will be staggering. Only one in 50 may survive. We cant just leave em to die in a hot river. So we must try no matter what. Reporter state biologists say the situation is becoming so dire that now with every 4,000 eggs laid, only one will make it back here again to spawn. Along the Russian River, don ford, kpix 5. Also today, fish game approved fishing closures to protect another endangered salmon species. It will close five miles of the Sacramento River to help protect a chinook salmon in their spawning habitat. That emergency regulation will start april 27. Wow, did you see the Russian River . Yeah. All up and down the state were feeling the effects and so much we talk so much about how, you know, you cant water your lawn. Theres a lot of species out there endangered species that may not make it this year. They may not survive the summer. Its not just the fact that theres not much water. What water is there will now be warmer because the sun is more efficient at heating the small amount of water up. Some species can only survive in cold water. Not getting cold water. Even though the river may look like its still flowing, the fact that its low has an impacts because the water temperature is going up which is critically bad for some species. No rain for the next couple of days. But surprisingly the second half of april may be cool, cloudy and wet which would be wonderful when you look at the big picture. Cupertino sunshine today and 85. San ramon 87. Fremont 80. Vallejo you were cooler 77. San mateo you only hit 72. Daly city look at that. 25 degrees cooler than san ramon. 30 miles, 25 degrees, your high 62. Take back to ocean beach, the kpix 5 mobile weather lab things are beginning to calm down. The worst of the waves, the worst of the risk of rip currents and sneaker waves is behind us. That said, it will stay elevated even into tomorrow. After the beach hazard statement expired which it does at 9 p. M. Tonight. Interesting how not warm we have been in april. The average high in San Francisco in january, 62 degrees. The average high for the first half of april, 63 degrees. January super warm, april not. Limited sunshine toward point reyes. It is free admission to all National Parks and National Monuments coming up this weekend. May not get much sunshine. But you will have zero admission cost. Get over to point reyes or yellowstone or any of our beautiful National Parks, National Monuments, all weekend long it is free. High pressure is sliding to the south. Critical. Thats the first piece. In order to get Something Else in here that might give us rainfall we have to get this out of here. That process is beginning. Thats the cloud cover we have at the coast. As it migrates south, winds always go clockwise around High Pressure so we are not getting the northern fringe of that ridge which gives us a westto east flow. Thats an onshore flow so temperatures begin to drop this weekend especially near the water and then once that ridge is gone, we look to the north for whats going to move in. This is wonderful news if you are concerned about the drought. And you kind of should be. We are looking at cooler conditions, cloudier conditions, less of the need to water your lawn. And even some rain showers in here wednesday and thursday well have scattered showers next week in the bay area. For tomorrow, saturday, want to get outside and enjoy the day with your family, please do. Concord 80, san jose 79. Redwood city 75, cooler in San Francisco down to 63. And pacifica only 59 degrees. The cooling trend continues on sunday kicks into high gear on monday and tuesday when we go cloudy. Look at next week 80s, hm, 70s barely. We are looking at more 60s than anything else next week. Good news. Yeah. We need that balance. We just enjoyed the sunshine. Now we need a little bit of rainfall to finish off april. Looking at that Russian River seeing how low it is. Wow, paul, thank you. The states jobless rate is the lowest its been in nearly 7 years. It was 6. 5 last month. That is down from 6. 7 in february. There are officially 1. 2 million Unemployed People in the state. But that doesnt count people who have stopped looking for a job. The last time the Unemployment Rate was this low was in may 2008. Stocks took a big tumble today. The dow down 279. The nasdaq down almost 76. The s p down 23. Search teams have found the remains of the u. S. S. Independence off the farralones. That world war ii Aircraft Carrier fought in the pacific between 1943 and 1945. So we are going to show you some photos. The top photo is the ship during the war. The bottom is a 3d sonar image of the flight deck. Scientists say it is amazingly intact even though it is now 2600 feet below the surface. The independence was deliberately sunk in 1951. It was damaged in atomic bomb testing after the war. A world famous north bay restaurant has a unique way of staying open while renovating itsey it is using shipping containers. The temporary setup at French Laundry opened last week. The four containers have windows so you can watch the chef at work. French laundrys new futuristic kitchen is expected to be finished in 7 months. Still ahead a new project for the cofounder of apple. It will have people lining up but this one is not all about gadgets. Plus gearing up for game one. The bay area pulling out all the stops to it took tennis legend serena williams, fencing champion Tim Morehouse and the rockettes years to master their craft. But only moments to master paying bills at chase. Com. Depositing checks at the atm and transferring funds on the mobile app. Technology designed for you. So you can easily master the way you bank. Bay area comiccon fans will have something to look forward to next year. Take a look. I have an idea. With the two of us we could bring our friends in Silicon Valley their very own comiccon. You mean a Silicon Valley comiccon . Oh, man, i like that ha ha you know that guy. Thats apple cofounder Steve Wozniak and legendary comic book creator stan lee.