That unfortunate fire we told you about yesterday that scorched three buildings on Masonic between Waller and Frederick on New Year's Day has been ruled an accident by fire department investigators. The blaze started at 1357-1359 Masonic Ave., a three-unit building, just after 8 p.m. Sunday and spread to two neighboring buildings, causing approximately $1.3 million in damage and displacing nine people. more ›

It's been a fiery start to the new year both here and down in L.A., and a three-alarm fire last night on Masonic between Frederick and Waller damaged three buildings and displaced ten people. One person was taken to the hospital suffering from shortness of breath. more ›

Thursday's five-alarm inferno in the Western Addition torched two residential buildings and one structure, leaving scores of people temporarily homeless for the holidays. Smoke could be seen as far as Colma and Oakland. While the exact cause of the fire has yet to be determined (no, outer space wasn't to blame), only a handful of people were injured due to smoke inhalation. more ›

While the exact number remains unknown, loads of people lost their homes and belongs after today's five-alarm fire in the city's Western Addition. A ruined holiday season is the least of their worries. But you can help. The Red Cross will have a tent area at 1455 Golden Gate (at Pierce) tonight and tomorrow taking donations of clothes, blankets, good tidings, etc. monetary donations only. You can go to the downtown San Francisco Red Cross at 85 2nd Street (at Mission). more ›

Dozens of people are out of a home tonight after a fire on shady Eddy Street consumed an apartment building. "The fire at a six-story, 40-unit apartment building at 347 Eddy St. was reported just after 8 a.m.," reports SF Examiner. more ›

A huge blaze, which has been described as the largest in the area since the Berkeley/Oakland Hills fire in 1991, burned inside the historic 39-unit Sequoias apartment building at Haste and Telegraph in Berkeley for seventeen hours on Friday night and most of the day Saturday. An estimated seventy residents were displaced and the building was gutted, making a subsequent investigation difficult, as investigators won't be allowed to enter the building. more ›

Firefighters battled a blaze in the city's historic Haight district early this morning. The fire started at a retail establishment at some point after 4:30 a.m., which then leaped over to the People's Cafe. No word of any injuries. The fire was extinguished before the morning commute. more ›

A massive six-alarm fire in Fairfield at the Macro Plastics Plant on 2250 Huntington Drive has resulted in a shelter-in-place. The blaze started a little before 2 pm this afternoon. Loads of plastic bins used for agricultural purposes are on fire, with no sign of it letting up. The flames are now spreading past the plastic plant. A huge plume of black smoke hovers above the area. more ›

Oh dear. San Francisco firefighters responded to a fire this afternoon in the Inner Sunset. "The blaze was reported at 12:36 p.m. in the 1600 block of 10th Avenue," notes SF Appeal. "Firefighters arrived in less than three minutes." No word yet on any injuries. more ›

San Francisco mourns the loss of firefighters Lt. Vincent Perez, 48, and firefighter-paramedic Anthony Valerio, 53, who succumbed from injuries they suffered during a blaze at a four-story home in Diamond Heights on Thursday, June 2, 2011. KGO has live footage of the procession now in progress, more ›

While extinguishing a small brush fire near Buena Vista Park this morning, firefighters came across a "partially burned body." The body was discovered a little after 4:30 a.m. "Police are considering the death suspicious.," notes Bay City News. Anyone with more details should call the fuzz at 415-575-4444 or send a tip by text message to TIP411. [KTVU]
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Firefighter and paramedic Anthony "Tony" Valerio, 53, one of the three firefighters involved in the deadly fire in Diamond Heights on Friday, died on Saturday morning at about 7:30 a.m. Valerio, a Bay Area native, spent 13 years with the city's Department of Public Health and 14 years with the fire department. more ›

On May 13, if you recall, a fire displaced residents of 506 Capp Street. A fundraiser will be held at Tope in North Beach to help them reclaim their lives. Head over to Mission Mission to find out more. more ›

The Chronicle reports three firefighters have been injured while battling a blaze that broke out around 10:45 am this morning on Berkeley Way in Diamond Heights. According to an SFFD spokesperson, two firefighters were found badly burned after a "flashover" knocked them unconscious inside the blazing four-story home. The third was in the same room, but suffered minor injuries and was able to walk out under his own power. All three were rushed to San Francisco General. As usual, we'll update with details as we get them. more ›

Harkening back to the days of the toilet torcher, two portable poopers were set on fire Sunday night in the city's Castro district. "One of the toilets was at 18th and Sanchez streets, the other at 18th and Douglass streets. In both cases, the back sides of the portable toilets melted," reports the Examiner. No one was injured. No arrests have been made. more ›

We're happy to report that no injuries were recorded in the three-alarm fire that captivated every photographer in the Mission on Friday afternoon. According to the Examiner, the fire started around 4:15 p.m. at 506 Capp St and spread to the building next door as well as the building behind it on 21st street. 14 mph winds complicated things, but SFFD had the blaze under control after about two hours and crews were able to rescue both a dog and a bird cage. [SFEx] more ›

Paco, a wee little dog who miraculously survived the three-alarm fire at the Park Hotel on Wednesday by hiding in a third-floor closet, was reunited with his owner yesterday. Rolando Walker, 47, went to San Francisco Animal Care and Control where Paco was being treated for some minor "smoke irritation." more ›

Wednesday night's three-alarm fire that ravaged Park Hotel on Folsom Street left over 75 San Franciscans homeless. The Red Cross set up shelters to cover the displaced for the night, and will continue tonight. While investigators have yet to determine how it started -- SF Weekly debunked rumors that the fire was sparked by an indoor barbecue -- the Chronicle reports that the blaze "gutted the apartment house and spread to three other buildings, causing significant damage to a six-unit apartment behind it and minor to moderate damage to adjacent structures." more ›

You've been waiting a week for low-grade security footage from that spontaneous combustion in a SoMa porn store. And here it is. Enjoy it, in all its naked glory. (Sidenote: what is that soundtrack? Also, misshotz.com credit at the beginning is an evil splog. Don't bother visiting.) [Hat tip: Examiner] more ›

A man remains in the hospital with third-degree burns after somehow catching fire inside a SoMa porn booth. The fire occurred at an adult arcade at Sixth and Mission streets a little after 6 p.m. Police aren't sure exactly how the patron caught fire, but saw him run out of the Sixth and Mission store "engulfed in flames." more ›

Update: The Examiner is reporting that the fire has been deemed suspicious. Authorities are saying that a trash compacter on the first floor of the building had exploded, enabling fire and smoke to spread up the garbage chute and travel throughout the hotel. more ›

Two smallish fires erupted this morning in San Francisco. First, "San Francisco firefighters responded to a one-alarm fire in the Sunset District this morning...at around 3:30 a.m. to a building in the 1300 block of Lawton Street at 19th Avenue." The fire was under control at around 4:30. Later, firefighters responded to reports of a blaze at Brannan and Seventh streets a little before 5:30 a.m. The was was extinguished at around 6 a.m. more ›

Please, please, please join us at The Lookout on Tuesday, February 15, for a fundraiser to benefit the displaced residents of the Castro arson fires. As many of you know, four fires in the Castro sent waves of paranoia throughout the community. One fire in particular, at 16th and Market Streets, displaced 17 people. In an effort to help these now homeless residents, writer and SFGate personality Beth Spotswood and local politico Kate Ryken have planned a most delightful fund raising party in the heart of the Castro. more ›

Another two-alarm fire broke out early this morning, just up the hill from the Castro at 1370 Clayton Street. According to Bay City News, the latest fire was reported around 3 a.m. today and under control by 3:43. No one was injured, but the Red Cross is assisting the six residents who are probably not enjoying their Monday so far. more ›

Around 3:30 a.m. last night firefighters responded to reports of a burning car at Webster and Rose Streets (between Page and Haight). A two-door gray Pontiac was fully engulfed in flames, and after putting out the fire they discovered a body in the passenger's seat. KTVU is reporting that the body was female, though was very badly burned. more ›

One of those rare winter Spare the Air days is here, folks. Which is to say, "Bay Area air quality officials have issued a Winter Spare the Air alert, which bans burning wood, manufactured firelogs, or any other solid fuel both indoors and outdoors." First offense will get you a warning, second one lands you $400 fine. Okay? Okay. [SF Appeal] more ›