Stonestown Galleria was evacuated Wednesday afternoon due to police activity and a vague, phone-in threat — possibly involving an armed individual — and the mall eventually reopened after several hours.

There was a mass evacuation of Stonestown Galleria on San Francisco's west side Wednesday, with a large emergency response that began around noon.

SFist co-founder Eve Batey reported from the scene that as of 1:21 pm the mall and the adjacent movie theater remained fully evacuated. And, she says, an SFPD officer on the scene said vaguely, "People call in and say stuff and we have to investigate."

The Chronicle initially reported via police dispatch records that the SFPD was called to the scene at 11:41 am on a report of a person with a gun.

The department later confirmed that they had received a threat mentioning the Stonestown mall specifically on their non-emergency dispatch line, which is what prompted the response.

The mall ultimately reopened around 3 pm.

"We were able to quickly, within a couple hours, sweep the entire mall, make sure that everything is safe. Nothing was found, no suspects found and it will be investigated later by investigators downtown," SFPD Captatin Clayton Harmston told reporters outside the mall, per the Chronicle. "I don’t have any specifics about the threat because it’s an open investigation, but our priority is to make sure that everybody is safe at Stonestown, which was our number one goal."

San Francisco's Department of Emergency Management issued an alert — which didn't get pushed to all cellphones apparently, because I didn't get it — saying, "Expect traffic delays, consider alternate routes, and allow for additional travel time."

This is the first time in recent SF memory that anything as large as Stonestown Galleria has had to be evacuated over any kind of threat situation.

Photo via Google Street View

As airports nationwide contend with residual flight cancellations and delays from the government shutdown, travelers at San Jose International Airport were hit extra hard Friday evening when a false fire alarm resulted in a full evacuation of one of its terminals.

As NBC Bay Area reports, harried travelers experienced a chaotic Friday evening at San Jose International Airport after a false fire alarm triggered a full evacuation of the airport’s Terminal B. The outlet interviewed passengers (in the below video report) who were forced to evacuate just as they were about to board their planes. They were then required to go through security a second time — after waiting about an hour for the fire alarm to be resolved.

“The airport is working through the process of reopening now,” Lynn Lunsford, a spokesperson for Southwest Airlines, told NBC Bay Area Friday night. “The remaining departures for the evening should be delayed until after the terminal re-opens, and arrivals are being held off the gates until things are back up and running.”

As of Saturday morning, flights in the terminal appeared to be back to normal, according to the airport’s website.

Related: SFO Sees Nearly 400 Delays, 55 Cancellations as Storm Conditions Collide With FAA-Ordered Cuts

Image: San Jose Mineta International Airport/Facebook

Napa County declared a local emergency for the Calistoga area Sunday, calling for additional funding to fight the Pickett Fire, which broke out Thursday and reached nearly 7,000 acres Sunday afternoon.

As SFist reported, the fire started just before 3 pm Thursday along Pickett Road outside the city limits of Calistoga, spreading to over 2,100 acres overnight. Cal Fire had deployed 435 firefighters and 75 engines to fight the fire on Friday, when temperatures reportedly hovered near 100 degrees. The blaze surpassed 3,000 acres and was at seven percent containment Friday afternoon.

As KPIX reports, the Bay Area Air District issued an Air Quality Advisory for Napa, Solano, and Sonoma counties on Friday, which was extended through Monday, August 25. KPIX notes that the agency is urging residents in those counties to check fire.airnow.gov to stay protected from the smoke.

As Santa Rosa’s Press Democrat reports, ground crews and night-flying helicopters kept the fire within the established limits overnight on Friday.

Cal Fire sent 1,230 firefighters to fight the blaze Saturday morning. Temperatures were cooler on Saturday, but windy conditions posed challenges for firefighting aircrafts, which were temporarily grounded due to low visibility from the smoke, per the Press Democrat.

As the Guardian reports, Napa County officials issued evacuation orders to around 190 people — as well as evacuation warnings to 360 people — throughout the day Saturday. Additional evacuation orders were announced Saturday evening, including at the historic Aetna Springs Resort, per the Press Democrat. The Guardian writes that 500 structures in the Aetna Springs and Pope Valley regions were at risk of being hit by the blaze.

Cal Fire said that although the winds pushed the fire “aggressively east,” firefighters were able to keep the blaze contained at 11% as of 9:30 pm Saturday, per the Press Democrat.

As KPIX reports, 2,045 personnel were on the scene Sunday, along with “205 engines, 67 dozers, 23 water tenders, 53 crews and 10 helicopters.” Favorable weather conditions allowed crews to make more progress containing the fire and managing hotspots.

KPIX writes that while many evacuation orders remained in effect Sunday, some residents were allowed to return to their homes — with caution. A community resource center has been set up at 1307 Washington Street in Calistoga, equipped with A/C, charging stations, and light refreshments, per KPIX.

As the Guardian reports, the fire is traveling along the burn scar of the dried vegetation left behind by the 2020 Glass Fire. The Glass Fire, which was significantly larger than the Pickett Fire and caused widespread damage, was declared the worst fire in Napa history, as SFist reported.

As KRON4 reports, Ryan Alsop, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Napa County’s Emergency Services, signed an emergency proclamation Sunday asking for additional resources for fighting the fire.

“The safety of our residents is our top priority,” Alsop said in a statement Sunday, per KRON4. “This declaration is a proactive step to ensure we can mobilize every available resource to respond to the needs of our community, including coordinating with state and federal partners.”

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.  There have been no injuries or reported damages so far.

Top image: Cal Fire LNU/Twitter

Previously: Pickett Fire, Which Began Thursday In Calistoga, Grows to 2,133 Acres

Emergency officials have issued dire warnings to residents of Southern California as Tropical Storm Hilary, previously a hurricane, bears down on the region. Hilary made landfall Sunday morning on the Baja California peninsula and is expected to continue its path north throughout the day, after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Saturday. He said over 7,500 emergency workers are on the ground, actively working to safeguard communities in the storm's path.

Although downgraded to a tropical storm from a hurricane over the weekend, Hilary is expected to unleash heavy rainfall, powerful winds, and life-threatening flooding, according to the Chronicle. Already on Saturday, one person was reported dead from drowning Mexico on the peninsula’s eastern coast, as NBC reported.

Hilary is reportedly projected to target Southern California by the afternoon, according to the National Hurricane Center. In California, a flash flood warning has been issued for Los Angeles County, including Long Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Lancaster, Palmdale, and Malibu, on Sunday until 7:45 p.m. P.T. Evacuation orders were issued for various neighborhoods in San Bernardino County, as ABC reported. The storm's path is predicted to trigger mudslides, landslides, and dangerous debris flow across the region, with the impact extending through Monday morning.

The southern coast is expected to experience record rainfall, according to the National Weather Service.

Residents are reportedly flocking to grocery stores, eager to stock up on essential supplies like food and water in anticipation of the storm. Meanwhile, airports across the region have encouraged travelers to verify their flight statuses with their respective airlines, as cancellations and delays are anticipated due to the severe weather conditions brought on by Tropical Storm Hilary, according to the Chronicle.

Luckily, forecasters say that the Bay Area doesn't expect an impact.

Feature image of Hilary over Southern California viewed Sunday via NOAA/GOES-18 Satellite.

Chaos unfolded at San Francisco International Airport on Sunday afternoon when a suspicious package was discovered in a terminal, causing an evacuation and causing flight diversions and significant delays.

The suspicious package turned out to be an abandoned item, which responding police officers identified as an unattended bag, as the Chronicle reported.

SFPD responded around 1 p.m. to SFO’s Terminal 2, the airport's official Twitter account said. The police initiated the evacuation of the Terminal 2 food court and D gate area as a precautionary measure, “out of an abundance of caution,” according to Mercury News.

After nearly an hour and a half of uncertainty, SFO gave an update to passengers that the issue had been resolved, allowing for the reopening of the area.

The disruption reportedly resulted in the diversion of at least two flights to San Jose International Airport, and several other flights experienced substantial delays.

Many passengers took to social media platforms to voice their frustrations, according to Mercury News.

As one traveler said, “It would be really great to the 1000’s of passengers if you’d make some sort of announcement, post something on a board or ANYTHING other than letting people wander around in herds with no info about their flights. I was told my flight would be held. It left.”

The airport and police are reportedly working to return the bag, but the incident comes as airports nationwide gear up for the forthcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend, a time traditionally marked by increased travel activity.

Image via Unsplash/Duke Cullinan.

A home on a hill in an Orinda neighborhood began to slip downhill last week, KPIX reported. The family living in it had reportedly been evacuated, and no one was injured.

The video from KPIX's helicopter shows the extent of that damage from the slide.

The home, at 14 Cedar Lane Cedar Lane, began to fall Thursday as the ground fell out from under the foundation of the house and its deck, the Chronicle reported. The hilly neighborhood had been drying out after the past month of heavy rains, leaving the ground unstable.

The home is reportedly now at about 30 feet below its original position — and is actually mostly still intact, although the doormat and the front porch were left up at the top of the hill, according to the Chronicle. By Friday, the house was reportedly padlocked and wrapped in tape, warning “Life safety threat: do not enter.”

The property had been “red-tagged” Wednesday, meaning that it was not safe for occupancy in the present state. The family left the home at the time, before the home began to slide.

Landslide threatens neighborhood in Orinda, one home already taken downhill https://t.co/YzlnDommaR

— KTVU (@KTVU) January 21, 2023

Officials closed the neighborhood from Cedar Lane at Cedar Terrace due to the movement.

Another neighbor’s home, reportedly belonging to the Sebilla family, is “yellow tagged,” meaning it has been moderately damaged to the degree that its habitability is limited.

"Our driveway, I don't know if you've probably noticed, where it's all... that sort of…as of yesterday was sinking down there,” Albert Sebilia told KTVU, adding, “they were watching as it moved kind of closer to our house, they said, and it was happening so quickly, they said, 'We don't know how far it's going. So, you can't stay here.’"

Crews are reportedly working on the neighborhood to prevent any further damage amid the landslide.

East Bay MUD told KTVU that the slide is under investigation, and that this week’s slide is unlikely related to a known pre-slide leak. However, landslide insurance is nearly impossible to get, and so the question of liability remains.

Image via Google Street View.

Large electrical fire at Walnut Creek BART. Trains halted. Crews standing by for BART electricians to secure power. #BARTIC pic.twitter.com/4qbA6yetSa

— Confire PIO (@ContraCostaFire) March 5, 2017

As many as 400 people were evacuated from a stranded BART train Saturday night, after an electrical fire at an East Bay station halted service.

ABC 7 reports that the fire was reported at the Walnut Creek Station at 5:50 Saturday night, when "Flames and smoke could be seen below the track area at the station." According to the Chron, the source of the fire is an electrical equipment vault at the station, not a train.

Service was immediately halted along the entire Pittsburg/Bay Point line, stranding hundreds of passengers on a train in the area.

By 6:28 p.m., the Chron reports, "the fire was under control and that about 400 passengers were being removed from the stopped train."

But not before an all-too-human but slightly gross note — according to ABC 7, while passengers were trapped on the car, "children needing to use the restroom were ushered into an empty car that was turned into a makeshift bathroom."

As of 7:19, BART sent an alert saying that service along the line had resumed, but "Trains will be moving at reduced speeds, expect delays."

According to BART, no one was hurt during the fire or the rescue, unless you count the injuries to the BART train the little kids were forced to relieve themselves in.

Just in time for your evening commute, northbound South Van Ness Ave from Mission Street to Market Street has been close due to a hazmat situation. (Unconfirmed reports suggest a chemical leak.)

The nearby SFMTA building at Market and Van Ness has also been evacuated. People inside 1 S. Van Ness have complained about shortness of breath, according to KTVU.

No estimated time of the street re-opening.

We'll update as soon as we know more.

Firefighters and police are on the scene at 5885 Hollis in Emeryville, an office building used by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, after a bomb threat was called in this morning. The threat was received at around 7 a.m. Officials would not elaborate.

The building also houses the lab's Joint BioEnergy Institute, which, according to the the Lawrence Berkeley Lab website, works to "advance the development of next generation biofuels."

We'll update as soon as we know more.

[Oakland Tribune]

We're getting word that a "suspicious package" has forced the evacuation of the Farmer's Market outside the Ferry Building. A large section of the Embarcadero is now blocked off, too, so please stay out of the area.

According to one tipster, local photog Travis Jensen, "There's a black suitcase w/ wires hanging out zip tied to a tree." And it's located at Steuart Street between Mission and Market streets.

Bomb scare @ the intersection of Market & Stuart. There's a black suitcase w/ wires hanging out zip tied to a tree. @sfist @sfappeal

— Travis Jensen (@TravisJensen) October 30, 2012

Yikes. Will update as soon as we know more.

Update: SF Appeal reports that traffic is also being disrupted. "San Francisco Municipal Railway service in the area has been disrupted because of the police activity, Muni spokesman Paul Rose said. The inbound F-Market/Wharves streetcar line is switching back at Market and 11th streets, while the 6-Parnassus, 14-Mission, 21-Hayes, and 31-Balboa bus lines are being rerouted, Rose said."

Update II: "Bomb squad continues investigation of suspicious suitcase in tree on Steuart St. across from Hyatt Embarcadero Hotel." [KCBS]

Update III: Is this the infamous suitcase stuck in a tree that's causing Tuesday afternoon's melee in downtown San Francisco. Caity Cronkhite snapped this shot of the suitcase hours ago, tweeted it, and wrote the following, "This is a suitcase zip-tied to a tree. It's difficult to come by extra storage space in San Francisco, but come on." Four hours later, we now have evacuations and major street closures.

Her wonderful follow-up tweet:

Don't mind me, I'm just the girl who reported the #suitcaseinatree that shut down half of San Francisco.

— Caity Cronkhite (@CaityCronkhite) October 30, 2012

Update IV: Helicopters hover above the intersection, waiting. Also, the bomb robot is now in full effect. Behold:

(via ABC7News)

Update V: A shelter-in-place has been ordered for the area, of course.

Update VI: Suitcase deemed harmless by police. Back to work. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along. Also, affected muni bus routes are now resuming their regular routes. Expect residual delays.

An United Airlines plane headed for San Francisco Airport was evacuated in Denver after authorities got wind of a bomb threat. Yikes! "Carrie Harmon of the Transportation Security Administration, according to Associated Press, said "someone phoned in a bomb threat at about 7:30 a.m. on Thursday" and that "passengers, cargo and baggage were removed for re-screening."

The United Airlines flight, No. 869, was rescheduled and is expected to land at SFO at around 11:19 a.m.

Today's bomb threat comes on the heels of another threat that, on February 24, shut down an entire terminal. The threat in the that case? An elderly woman's oxygen tank TSA mistook for a bomb.

[Sacto Bee]

Part of San Francisco International Airport was evacuated a little before noon today after authorities discovered a suspicious package in a screening area. The closure shut down Terminal One, boarding area C, the Delta Airlines terminal.

“The package went through one of the X-Ray machines,” airport spokesman, Mike McCarron told CBS 5. “The operator didn’t like what they saw as far as what was inside the package, asked for assistance, and it was very suspicious.”

According to AP, "passengers are being redirected to other boarding areas, then bussed to their Delta flights...some flights have been delayed because of the lockdown." And while a very serious manner, today's SFO closure isn't nearly as interesting as what happened at JFK Airport. According to Gothamist, "An individual who had been flagged by the TSA and was asked for a secondary screening apparently walked away around 5:20 a.m., causing security to shut down Terminal 7, clear it out, and then re-screen all the passengers." This caused The View's Sherri Shepherd to go on a delightful Twitter rant.

The package and the package's owner are now under investigation. SFO has yet to open the terminal. We'll update as soon as they do.

Below, CBS 5 report:

Update: The terminal has since reopened.

A gas leak near Viking Avenue and Ruth Drive have prompted the immediate evacuation in the College Park area. Residents are urged not to open their doors or windows. Police said the evacuation is mandatory. Residents are asked to leave by car and call 911 only if they are unable to leave their homes.

Although police said there is "no immediate health hazard," residents are asked "to collect essential items and leave their homes as a precaution."

Anyone with questions should call Pleasant Hill police at 925-288-4600.

Update: PG&E have capped the leak. It's safe. Residents are now allowed to return home.

Buena Vista Elementary in Walnut Creek (2355 San Juan Avenue Walnut Creek) as been evacuated after a bomb scare or suspicious package was found at the school. We'll update as soon as we know more. Until then, police advise people to stay out of the area. Obviously.