History of the Earthquake and Fire in San Francisco
Author: first_name: Frank W.
last_name: Aitken
first_name: Edward
last_name: Hilton
Language: English
Year: 1906

Early in the morning of Wednesday, April 18, 1906, the San Francisco area was shaken by a massive earthquake. Over the course of the next four days, fires spread through large swaths of the city, started by broken gas lines, fallen electrical wiring, and damaged chimneys. Broken water mains prevented the fire department from effectively battling the blazes. By the time the fires were finally extinguished on the afternoon of Saturday, April 21, nearly 3000 people were dead and 500 city blocks des