SFFD response to the Marina immediately after earthquake 10/17/89
Engine 41 was dispatched to Cervantes & Fillmore Streets in the Marina district to investigate a collapsed building. At that location fire fighters saw smoke and a burning building nearby. A three-story apartment structure at the NW corner of Divisadero & Jefferson St. was burning and the fire in this building threatened adjacent structures within the block, as well as collapsed and partially collapsed buildings across Dividadero and Jefferson Streets.
Engine 41 responded to the fire and connected to an Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS) hydrant in front of the burning building, which had already partially collapsed. Shortly after, an explosion occurred inside the building, which collapsed onto the hydrant. In order to save the apparatus, Engine 41 departed the vicinity immediately, ripping its hose off the coupling to the hydrant. Engine 41 then moved across the street and was assisted by Engine 16 and Trucks 16 and 9.
About this time, water supply problems occurred due to breaks in the Municipal Water Supply System as well as in the high pressure AWSS. Water was then drafted from the Palace of Fine Arts lagoon, about four blocks away, and relayed to the site. Several more explosions occurred, resulting in the collapse of exposed buildings onto the fire fighters' hose, causing Engine 41 to run out of hose.
At approximately 6:20 P.M., the fireboat Phoenix arrived in the Marina lagoon (two blocks away) and the department's Portable Water Supply System's (PWSS) Hose Tender 25 arrived on the scene, with 5,000 feet of 5-inch large diameter hose. The fireboat was able to supply Hose Tender 25, as well as Hose Tender 8, which arrived at about 6:40 P.M. At this time flames were approximately 75 feet high and visible from several miles away. The entire neighborhood was threatened with conflagration. Via the PWSS, the Phoenix then supplied Engine 41, as well as aerial ladders from Truck 2 on Jefferson Street and Truck 10 on Beach Street, and monitors on both sides of the burning building. With this ample water supply, the fire was brought under control at about 8:00 P.M.
Engine 41 responded to the fire and connected to an Auxiliary Water Supply System (AWSS) hydrant in front of the burning building, which had already partially collapsed. Shortly after, an explosion occurred inside the building, which collapsed onto the hydrant. In order to save the apparatus, Engine 41 departed the vicinity immediately, ripping its hose off the coupling to the hydrant. Engine 41 then moved across the street and was assisted by Engine 16 and Trucks 16 and 9.
About this time, water supply problems occurred due to breaks in the Municipal Water Supply System as well as in the high pressure AWSS. Water was then drafted from the Palace of Fine Arts lagoon, about four blocks away, and relayed to the site. Several more explosions occurred, resulting in the collapse of exposed buildings onto the fire fighters' hose, causing Engine 41 to run out of hose.
At approximately 6:20 P.M., the fireboat Phoenix arrived in the Marina lagoon (two blocks away) and the department's Portable Water Supply System's (PWSS) Hose Tender 25 arrived on the scene, with 5,000 feet of 5-inch large diameter hose. The fireboat was able to supply Hose Tender 25, as well as Hose Tender 8, which arrived at about 6:40 P.M. At this time flames were approximately 75 feet high and visible from several miles away. The entire neighborhood was threatened with conflagration. Via the PWSS, the Phoenix then supplied Engine 41, as well as aerial ladders from Truck 2 on Jefferson Street and Truck 10 on Beach Street, and monitors on both sides of the burning building. With this ample water supply, the fire was brought under control at about 8:00 P.M.