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A History of the 1906 San Francisco

Earthquake and Fire
by Jennifer Rosenberg
Updated August 22, 2018

At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, an estimated magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit San Francisco,
lasting for approximately 45 to 60 seconds. While the earth rolled and the ground split, the
wooden and brick buildings of San Francisco toppled. Within half an hour of the San
Francisco earthquake, 50 fires had erupted from broken gas pipes, downed power lines, and
overturned stoves.

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fires killed an estimated 3,000 people
and left over half of the city's population homeless. Around 500 city blocks with 28,000
buildings were destroyed during this devastating natural catastrophe.

The Earthquake Strikes San Francisco

At 5:12 a.m. on April 18, 1906, a foreshock hit San Francisco. However, it offered just a quick
warning, for massive devastation was soon to follow.

Approximately 20 to 25 seconds after the foreshock, the large earthquake hit. With the
epicenter near San Francisco, the entire city was rocked. Chimneys fell, walls caved in, and
gas lines broke.

Asphalt that covered the streets buckled and piled up as the ground seemed to move in
waves like an ocean. In many places, the ground literally split open. The widest crack was an
incredible 28 feet wide.

The quake ruptured a total of 290 miles of the Earth's surface along the San Andreas Fault,
from northwest of San Juan Bautista to the triple junction at Cape Mendocino. Though most
of the damage was focused in San Francisco (in large part because of the fires), the quake
was felt all the way from Oregon to Los Angeles.

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Death and Survivors

The earthquake was so sudden and the devastation so severe that many people didn't have
time to even get out of bed before they were killed by falling debris or collapsed buildings.

Others survived the quake but had to scramble out of the wreckage of their buildings, clothed
only in pajamas. Others were naked or near naked.

Standing out in the glass-strewn streets in their bare feet, survivors looked around them and
saw only devastation. Building after building had been toppled. A few buildings were still
standing, but had entire walls fall off, making them look somewhat like doll houses.

In the hours that followed, survivors began helping neighbors, friends, family, and strangers
who remained trapped. They attempted to retrieve personal possessions from the wreckage
and scavenge some food and water to eat and drink.

Homeless, thousands upon thousands of survivors began wandering, hoping to find a safe
place to eat and sleep.

Fires Start

Almost immediately after the earthquake, fires broke out across the city from broken gas lines
and stoves that had fallen over during the shaking.

The fires spread ferociously across San Francisco. Unfortunately, most of the water mains
had also broken during the quake and the fire chief was an early victim of falling debris.
Without water and without leadership, it seemed nearly impossible to put out the raging fires.

The smaller fires eventually combined into larger ones.

South of Market Fire - Located south of Market Street, the fire was curbed on
the east by fireboats that could pump salt water. However, without water in the fire
hydrants, the fire quickly spread both north and west.

North of Market Fire - Threatening an important commercial area and

Chinatown, firefighters attempted to use dynamite to create firebreaks to stop the
fire.

Ham and Eggs Fire - Started when a survivor tried to make breakfast for her
family not realizing that the chimney had been damaged. Sparks then ignited the
kitchen, starting a new fire that soon threatened the Mission District and City Hall.

Delmonico Fire - Another cooking fiasco, this time started by soldiers trying to
cook dinner in the ruins of the Delmonico Restaurant. The fire quickly grew.

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With the fires raging out of control, buildings that had survived the earthquake were soon
engulfed in flame. Hotels, businesses, mansions, City Hall -- all were consumed.

Survivors had to keep moving, away from their broken homes, away from the fires. Many
found refuge in city parks, but often those too had to be evacuated as the fires spread.

In just four days, the fires died out, leaving a trail of devastation behind.

Aftermath of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake

The quake and subsequent fire left 225,000 people homeless, destroyed 28,000 buildings,
and killed approximately 3,000 people.

Scientists are still trying to accurately calculate the magnitude of the quake. Since the
scientific instruments used to measure the earthquake weren't as reliable as more modern
ones, scientists have yet to agree on the size of the magnitude. Most, however, place it
between 7.7 and 7.9 on the Richter scale (a few have said as high as 8.3).

Scientific study of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake led to the formation of the elastic-
rebound theory, which helps explain why earthquakes occur. The 1906 San Francisco
earthquake was also the first large, natural disaster whose damage was recorded by
photography.

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