At 7:15 A.M. this morning in the Ingleside area of San Francisco, there was a home fire at 226 Byxbee Street that led to the death of one individual.
San Francisco Fire Department units were called to Byxbee St. near Brooks Park after reports of a structure fire popped up and firefighters discovered a two-story home was ablaze, according to Captain Jonathan Baxter. Some media outlets mistakenly reported that the fire was at 222 Byxbee Street. A total of 40 San Francisco firefighters responded to the scene to fight the home fire.
The one-alarm fire was ultimately brought under control around 7:38 A.M.
The person who ultimately died was initially rescued, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. However, shortly after being rescued, that person succumbed to their serious fire injuries. Neighbors said the person who died was an elderly man who lived alone and had difficulty moving around. A woman named Rose Zimmerman said her husband helped the elderly man whenever he could, doing tasks such as taking out garbage cans. Several other neighbors had to be evacuated due to the fire and smoke damage; a woman named Dorothy said she felt the impace of the smoke, and because she also has mobility trouble, she needed a blanket and help from the firefighters. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
“This Ingleside house fire on Byxbee Street must have been a terrifying experience for so many of the residents there,” said attorney Gerald Singleton, of Singleton Schreiber.
To contact the Ingleside home fire attorneys at Singleton Schreiber, call (415) 635-0533 or email info@singletonschreiber.com.
Byxbee Street, Ingleside Home Fire
According to the City of San Francisco, home fires are a serious problem. Overall, according to the San Francisco Fire Department website, nearly 4,000 Americans die each year in house fires and 2,000 more are severely injured. A seriously terrifying fact shows why home fires are so dangerous. In just 3.5 minutes, the heat from a house fire can reach 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. For anyone in that home when the temperature reaches such severe heights, escape is difficult.
And, as in this instance, when someone with a disability or someone older is at home, 1,100 degrees can turn deadly immediately. Many homes can be poorly made, using materials that catch fire easily. And in structures such as this two-story home, entry ways can be difficult to get to. That means a fire becomes extra deadly because escaping it is nearly impossible.
The danger of San Francisco home fires is obvious, because 80% of all civilian deaths from fire occur at home. A room that isn’t even on fire can reach 300 degrees, hot enough to melt plastic and kill people in those rooms. Again, this Ingleside house fire proves a deadly fact. Adults 65 years of age and older are twice as likely to die in a fire as the rest of the population.
Causes of San Francisco House Fires
Lots of factors contribute to San Francisco house fire deaths. Oddly enough, most deaths aren’t caused directly by the fire, but by the other problems fires create. Gasses and fumes are created by fires which cause people to become sleepy, weak and confused. Smoke can become so thick that a house will be completely dark within four minutes. In this wrongful fire death, the elderly man could have suffered any number of issues, from a faulty fire alarm installed by the landlord to smoke inhalation caused by dangerous building materials.
House fires can be ignited by:
- Faulty wiring
- Poorly designed appliances
- Negligently maintained properties
- And many other reasons
House and home fires are a serious problem in San Francisco as the city ages and structures become more vulnerable. In February, one person died and two more were injured after an explosion knocked two San Francisco homes off their foundation. In January, 25 people were displaced by a San Francisco home fire. In 2021, it was reported that fires rose by 26% in San Francisco, with fires increasing 50% in the Mission, Castro/Upper Market, and SoMa areas.
“Ingleside home fires are incredibly dangerous, and this elderly man found that out,” said Mr. Singleton, an Ingleside home fire attorney. “When the ensuing investigation discovers the cause of this fire, there will likely be civil litigation to follow. As our firm has seen time and again, there are several factors that cause home fires, many of which are outside the homeowners’ control. In those situations, those injured are eligible for compensation, as are the family members of those who lost their lives.”
Singleton Schreiber is a premier fire litigation firm, to contact them please call (415) 635-0533 or email them at info@singletonschreiber.com.
