1 Injured, Homes Evacuated In San Francisco Potrero Hill Grass Fire Started By Fireworks
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- One person was injured at a grass fire that may have been started by children playing with fireworks in San Francisco's Potrero Hill neighborhood Friday afternoon.
The fire forced some evacuations before being contained.
The San Francisco Fire Department first tweeted about the grass fire on the 900 block of Connecticut Street shortly before 1 p.m.
According to posts on the Citizen app, the Potrero Hill Rec Center and residents along nearby Dakota Street were advised to evacuate immediately. Fire crews went door to door urging people to evacuate nearby homes and apartment buildings.
San Francisco police and fire units responded to the scene. At about 2:08 p.m., San Francisco Fire tweeted that the fire had been contained at 2.5 acres with no structures damaged.
San Francisco Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Baxter said a neighbor who was helping with the evacuations was treated by paramedics for smoke inhalation and released. Residents were allowed to return home a short time after the fire was contained.
Witnesses saw multiple children setting of fireworks and police and fire investigators are following up on that information, he said.
"This is a reminder as we move into summer and the Fourth of July holiday week of the reason why we do not allow any fireworks in San Francisco," Baxter said. "This fire, again, had a very rapid rate of spread, it was wind-driven and if it weren't for the swift actions of firefighters, police officers and very alert and conscientious community members this could have resulted in property damage, injury and maybe even death."
