War Of Words Heats Up Over Response To North Beach Fire

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A fire in San Francisco's North Beach neighborhood over the weekend is still under investigation, but the preliminary findings are that the fire was accidental, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

While the investigation into the four-alarm blaze continues, a war of words over how the San Francisco Fire Department responded to the fire was heating up on Monday.

Acting San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell was critical of comments made by San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin, who has called for San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White to resign.

Peskin issued his demand while watching firefighters battle the blaze.

"I know the chief says they're fire experts, but I can tell you tonight was a total failure by the fire department and that starts at the top," he said.

Peskin, who represents the North Beach neighborhood, said he was so angry at what he claimed was a 20-minute delay before hoses began pouring water on the flames.

"It starts at the top," he said. "I called her during this event repeatedly. Her voicemail is full ... but even her high ranking staff that got here realized that they were not on the job ... There is no excuse for it ... I mean this is a town that is earthquake prone. If they can't deal with an issue like this, we're in deep trouble."

Fire department staff made their initial response to the criticism Saturday night.  

"We had people inside that building under very dangerous conditions," said Hayes-White.

"With all due respect to the supervisor, he had it wrong," said SF Deputy Fire Chief Mark Gonzales.

When asked on Monday, Farrell said he was not in favor of the chief resigning and had issue with Peskin's timing.

"From my perspective, as you think about it, as huge of a fire as it was, we are incredibly lucky as a city," he said. "There were no civilian injuries. One firefighter was injured and we are obviously very concerned to make sure he heals appropriately but considering the magnitude of the fire, they (firefighters) did an incredible job."

When asked if Hayes-White should resign, Farrell said: "No, absolutely not."

And then he took aim at Peskin.

"Look, to comment that a chief should resign from an elected official in the middle of a live fire is one of the most inappropriate things you can do," he told reporters. "I really commend the fire department for the job they did at that fire."

When asked if the fire department's response should be investigate, Farrell said: "Every fire is investigated. Both for the cause of the fire itself and what happened, how our fire department handled the situation. What we can do better."

Farrell said he spoke to Peskin at the fire scene Saturday night.

"Everyone is entitled to their own perspective and opinion," he said. "From my point of view as mayor of this city, I think that any time you have a live fire going on, the only thing that you should be thinking about or caring about is the safety of civilians and the firefighters who are fighting the fire. Putting their lives on the line for the citizens of this city."

Peskin's slam is also bringing him heat from allies, even his friends in the firefighters union.

"My firefighters are furious," said SF Firefighter Union President Tom O'Connor. "They did a fantastic job."

Supervisor and former SF Fire Commissioner London Breed also backed the firefighters.

"It was a challenging fire, under the most difficult of circumstance. And they did an incredible job," said Breed.

Hayes-White said what Peskin took as inaction may have been the pause that comes between getting fire fighters out of a losing fight and pouring on the heavy water to save the rest of  the block.

"You cannot direct a hose stream into a building when you have people in there. You could kill someone," said Hayes-White.

"They risked life and limb. They ran into that building and did the best that they could," added O'Connor. "And then to say that they failed at their jobs? That was an insult."

Monday, KPIX 5 tried calling Peskin to get his reaction to the criticism directed at him over his heated remarks. The outgoing voice message at his office said Peskin is out of town until April 2nd and that he would not be checking messages.

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