One person died and two people were injured in a "significant" explosion and subsequent fire in San Francisco's Sunset District Thursday morning that caused one home to collapse and damaged two others, according to the fire department.
Firefighters responded at 9:22 a.m. to a reported explosion and structure fire along the 1700 block of 22nd Avenue, San Francisco fire Capt. Jonathan Baxter said.
"Doors and windows across the street from this fire were blown out," San Francisco fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said. "You can see there's debris all over the street here. So it was a significant explosion."
The cause of the explosion and fire are under investigation.
The first fire crew arrived on scene at 9:25 a.m. and confirmed there was a fire at 1734 22nd Ave., a two-story residence. There was also a civilian outside the home suffering from major injuries, Baxter said.
The civilian was transported to the hospital, Baxter said. A firefighter, suffering from minor injuries, was also transported to the hospital.
One occupant of 1734 22nd Ave. was unaccounted for for several hours but was eventually located in the scene and declared dead around 6:30 p.m. by the fire department.
The fire spread from the residence at 1734 22nd Ave. to two neighboring residences, 1730 and 1738 22nd Ave., Baxter said.
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"There is extensive damage to the homes on either side of this collapsed building," Nicholson said.
Nicholson said 911 dispatchers received multiple phone calls from people as far away as 24th Avenue and Noriega Street who reported feeling the explosion.
An evacuation order was initially issued for the entire 1700 block of 22nd Avenue, but that order and a shelter-in-place order for nearby properties were later lifted.
More than 100 firefighters and 35 fire apparatus responded to the scene, Baxter said.
Further information wasn't immediately available.
