Index to Fire Department Reports

Municipal Reports

THE SAN FRANCISCO EARTHQUAKE
AND FIRE OF APRIL 1906

2. Fire Department, the Fires Break Out

(This report is presented exactly as written by an unknown member of the department in 1907)

Immediately following the earthquake of April 18, 1906, it was noticed that fires were breaking out in nearly every portion of the city. Some were caused by electric wires, others started by from broken flues and overturned stoves in restaurants and from coal oil lamps upsetting. It is positively known that there were over fifty fires in different locations at one time that morning, and probably there were many more that were put out by the occupants of the houses where they occurred.

At Twenty-second and Mission streets a fire broke out in a large three-story building that was occupied as a dry-goods store, and which occupied nearly a quarter of a block. Through the energetic efforts of the engine companies stationed in that immediate vicinity, and with the aid of what little water that was obtained from a cistern on the corner of Twenty-second and Shotwell streets, this fire was confined to the building in which it originated, otherwise all the Mission section of the city would have been destroyed.

South of Market street and east of Sixth street fierce fires were soon burning in many places, and it was clearly seen that this section of the city was doomed.

A determined stand was made by the department to prevent this conflagration from spreading to the west and across Market street. Eighth street was the place determined upon and the work of dynamiting the buildings on the west side of that street from Market south commenced.

The result was that this fire was checked there and would not have extended farther west, but for a fire that broke out in the neighborhood of Gough and Hayes streets about ten o'clock A. M. that morning. (Ham and Eggs Fire) Had there been the slightest quantity of water obtainable when this latter fire was discovered it could have easily been extinguished, but we were compelled to watch it burn and spread. 

This is the fire that caused the destruction of the Mission district as well as the Hayes Valley section, including the Mechanics' Pavilion and the City Hall. (and my grandfather's store and house at Hayes and Franklin)

Meanwhile the numerous fires in the wholesale district north of Market street were gradually assuming gigantic proportions and gaining in magnitude, and without the means to successfully battle with the same, the department was unable to stay its course.

The conflagration lasted for fully three days, and at the end thereof, the members of this department, who had been continuously on duty, without sleep and barely sufficient food, were well-nigh exhausted.

3. Rehabilitation of the Department