1 Dead, 2 Injured In San Francisco Explosion, Fire

SAN FRANCISCO, CA — Thursday morning's explosion and three-alarm fire in San Francisco's Sunset District is now designated as fatal with the discovery this afternoon of an adult previously unaccounted for.

San Francisco Fire Department Capt. Jonathan Baxter said early Thursday evening that a body was located within the fire building. A K9 search team discovered the body.

The explosion and fire prompted evacuation and shelter-in-place orders Thursday.

Firefighters first responded at 9:25 a.m. to numerous 911 calls about an explosion in the 1700 block of 22nd Avenue. Upon arrival, firefighters said they saw a two-story home with heavy smoke and flames. One person was found outside of the home with severe burns and was transported to a hospital.

A firefighter also suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital, Baxter said in an email.

Over 100 firefighters and 35 fire trucks responded to the fire, which initially prompted an evacuation order for the entire 1700 block of 22nd Avenue, though it was later changed to only an evacuation order for homes between the 1730 and 1750 block of the street. The remainder of the block was ordered to shelter in place.

The explosion destroyed a home at 1734 22nd Ave., and severely damaged the homes to the left and right of it. The explosion also blew out windows of homes and cars in the nearby area.

Firefighters alongside American Red Cross officials will continue to assist residents who were evacuated or displaced from the fire, according to Baxter. The number of residents displaced from the fire has not been determined.

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