Big Rig Crashes Into Funeral Home Causing Fire In San Francisco
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A big-rig crashed into a funeral home and caused an intense fire in San Francisco's Castro District early Thursday morning.
Firefighters responded to the two-alarm fire at Sullivan Funeral and Cremation Services at 2254 Market St., between Sanchez and Noe Streets. shortly after 12:35 a.m., after an 18 wheeler slammed into the front of the building.
Big Rig Crashes Into Funeral Home Causing Fire In San Francisco
The fire burned for more than an hour before crews could control it.
The driver and a passenger in the big-rig, that was delivering food to nearby Starbucks, were transported to San Francisco General Hospital for minor injuries, according to police.
A caretaker inside the funeral home escaped unharmed.
It was unknown why the driver lost control of truck crossing over concrete-center medium, possibly rupturing the fuel tanks, and slammed into the funeral home before exploding into flames that reached 20 feet, according to Fire Battalion Chief Kevin Taylor.
"We're fortunate that very little fire extended inside the building," Taylor said pointing out the entry point was made of stucco.
Further inside, the structure was made of wood.
"If the vehicle had landed 20 more feet further than what it did, we would have had a much more intense fire going," Taylor told KCBS.
Jerry Lynn Sullivan, wife of the building's owner said she was thankful that no one was killed.
"It could have been a lot worse all the way around," she said.
Westbound Market at Sanchez Street will be closed until until cleanup crews can 150 gallons of remaining fuel from the tanks and tow the burned what's left of the rig.
In the meantime, Muni placed a shuttle bus on the F-Market line for the duration of the cleanup.
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