Fire department describes third-alarm explosion on 20 Second Avenue and multi-agency investigation

Deputy Chief Robert Postel described a Feb. 9 third-alarm explosion at 20 Second Avenue that left one person dead and caused significant structural damage to neighboring buildings.

Postel said initial crews found the house partially collapsed into the street with live downed power lines and heavy fire that made entry unsafe. "The survivability profile of anybody that had been in that structure was 0," Postel said, and he confirmed there was a loss of life at the scene.

The fire spread into adjoining exposure buildings, prompting an immediate second alarm. Assistant Chief Ken Yee served as incident commander and coordinated personnel to contain the fire to the immediate area, Postel said. Hazardous materials containers connected to the explosion were stabilized by the department’s hazmat team with assistance from the Department of Public Health; Postel said the SFPD controlled evidence handling and that ATF and DBI were involved in the subsequent investigation.

Postel said an after-action review hosted by the Department of Emergency Management included SFFD, SFPD, DPH and DBI and produced lessons on multi-jurisdiction response and evidence handling. Commissioners and staff later described significant foundation and exposure-wall damage in nearby buildings and emphasized the trauma to the neighborhood as recovery and repairs continue.

What happens next: the Bureau of Fire Investigation will continue working with law enforcement and federal partners on the criminal investigation and the department will monitor structural-repair and recovery needs for affected homeowners.