San Francisco Fire responds to Three-Alarm Explosion and Fire

San Francisco, CA – At 9:22 AM on February 9th, 2023, the San Francisco Fire Department responded to numerous 911 calls reporting an explosion with subsequent structure fire in the 1700 block of 22nd Ave. At 9:25 AM, three minutes after dispatch, the first arriving San Francisco Fire unit observed and confirmed a structure fire with heavy smoke and flames visible from all floors of a two-story residential structure on the 1700 Block of 22nd Avenue. One occupant was observed outside of the structure with serious injuries. At 9:28 in the morning, a second alarm was struck, and at 9:44 AM, a third alarm was struck, bringing over 100 firefighters and over 35 fire apparatus to the scene. This fire was declared contained at 11:25 A.M. on the same date. The American Red Cross was called to assist those evacuated and displaced from this incident.

As of 02-14-2023, 18 homes have been affected by this incident. On 02-09-2023, all residences impacted except 1730- 1734, and 1738 were able to repopulate their homes. As of 02-14-2023, several cars have been reported as damaged due to the explosion (all parked).

One community member was taken to the hospital for serious injuries resulting from this fire. This victim is currently being treated for injuries at a local hospital as of 02-14-2023. One firefighter was taken to a hospital for minor injuries resulting from this fire and released on 02-08-2023 and will be okay.

Firefighters were informed that an occupant was in 1734 22nd Avenue and could not escape. Due to heavy fire activity and a partial collapse of the building, rescue teams could not affect a rescue. A Search and Rescue Canine was dispatched from the San Francisco Fire Department Canine Team, and a Cadaver Canine was requested and dispatched from California Rescue Task Force 3. One adult occupant was located by the search canines around 6 PM in the footprint of this incident on 02-08-2023 and pronounced deceased.

On 02-09-2023, Evidence from this incident was transported to a secure San Francisco Police Department evidence location. During this transportation, the driver called 911 for a possible hazardous material leak. See the press release related to this here. This was cleared, and the evidence continued to the secure location. The chain of custody for this evidence was intact.

On 02-10-2023, the San Francisco Police Department announced an arrest in this case. Click here to view that Press Release.

As of 02-14-2023, this fire remains an open investigation by the San Francisco Fire Investigation Task Force. Members of this task force include the San Francisco Fire Department and the San Francisco Police Department. Special agents from the Alcohol Tabaco and Firearms San Francisco Office also are assisting in this investigation. For more on ATF’s Certified Fire Investigators, visit: https://www.atf.gov/careers/certified-fire-investigators

Due to Federal HIPPA laws, we cannot provide updates on the injured community member. For information about our valued community member pronounced deceased at this incident, contact the San Francisco Medical Examiner’s Office.

For information on charges, and suspect information, contact San Francisco Police Department Media Affairs at: sfpdmediarelations@sfgov.org or Phone: at 1-415-837-7395.

This investigation will take time, as most fire investigations do. Please consider requesting to be informed of when reports are available here.