History of the Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco

On the fateful morning of April 18, 1906, a massive earthquake struck San Francisco, triggering a catastrophic series of fires that would devastate the city for four harrowing days. The inferno, ignited by ruptured gas lines, downed electrical wires, and collapsing chimneys, spread with terrifying speed, while broken water mains severely hampered firefighting efforts. By the time the fires were finally brought under control on April 21, nearly 3,000 lives had been lost, and 500 city blocks lay in ashes. In the wake of this disaster, the Edward Hilton Company meticulously compiled and analyzed the available information to produce this gripping account of the events that forever changed San Francisco. (Summary by Maria Kasper)