1975 — Dec 12, condemned Gartland Apartments bldg. arson fire, San Francisco, CA– 14

–>14 Garofoli. “Remember the Gartland!/Wall dancers invoke deadly ’75 fire…” SFGate, 9-14-2002.
— 14 National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The 1984 Fire Almanac. 1983, p. 137.
— 14 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 70, No. 4, July 1976, p. 28.
— 13 NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 70, No. 4, July 1976, p. 29.
— 12 NFPA. “Bimonthly Fire Record,” Fire Journal, Vol. 70, No. 2, March 1976, p. 53.

Narrative Information

Garofoli: “Before the dot-coms swarmed, before the crepe shops opened, the Mission District was shaped by arson fires. And none seared a more lasting legacy on the neighborhood than the blaze that ripped through the Gartland Apartments, killing at least 14 people in the predawn hours of Dec. 12, 1975….

“Police counted 11 arson fires within an eight-block area around the Gartland in the year before it burned…. some of the fires [were dubbed] “arson-for-profit,” attempts to capitalize on growing real estate interest in one of San Francisco’s sunniest neighborhoods….

“Nobody was ever charged in connection with the blaze…

“The Fire Department’s report lists 14 dead, 15 firefighters injured and four residents burned. But [SF Fire Capt. and arson inspector] Carr said, “There’s no way of telling how many people were in that building.”

“Within days, the building was razed. And it stayed that way for years, a gaping hole that became known as the Gartland Pit….” (Garofoli, Joe. “Remember the Gartland!/Wall dancers invoke deadly ’75 fire as rallying cry for affordable housing.” SFGate, 9-14-2002.)

NFPA Fire Journal, July 1976: “Residential. Apartment building, San Francisco, California. Shortly after 3:30 on the morning of December 12, the occupants of this five-story apartment building awoke to discover a fire in the hallway of the building.

“The fire of incendiary origin spread rapidly up open stairways and through corridors, trapping tenants in their rooms. Although the Fire Department was able to rescue a majority of the residents over ladders, 13 perished in the fire. Eleven fire fighters, plus 14 additional tenants, were injured.” (NFPA. “Multiple-Death Fires, 1973,” Fire Journal. Vol. 70, No. 4, July 1976, p. 29.)

NFPA Fire Journal, March 1976: “Apartment Building. Suspicious Origin; 12 Killed, December 12, 1975, San Francisco, Calif.

“This 95-foot-by-100-foot, five-story-and-basement apartment building was built in 1912. The walls were brick, and floors and roof were of wood construction. The building had an open center stairway and three metal fire escapes from windows on two sides. There was no smoke or heat detection, no alarm system, no sprinkler protection, no portable extinguishers, and no smoke barriers between the corridors and open stairwell. The building did have two dry standpipe systems on the outside for Fire Department use and two wet standpipe systems inside for occupant use, although some of the hose valve handles were missing from the inside stations.

“The first floor was occupied by a gift shop, barber shop, café, club, and a 25¢ ‘peep shop.’ One or two of the first-floor store areas were vacant. The upper floors consisted of 59 apartment units, 14 on the second floor and 15 each on the third, furth, and fifth floors. Approximately 17 of the apartments were vacant at the time of the fire, but reportedly there were people living in some of the vacant units. About 120 people were believed to be in the building when the fire occurred.

“The fire was first detected by occupants some time around 3:40 am when they either heard the fire or saw the smoke or flames coming through their apartment doors. One woman yelled out her window to a man across the street, asking him to call the Fire Department. The Fire Department received the alarm at 3:43 am. The first arriving units could see flames coming out of the upper windows and called a second alarm at 3:46 am. Occupants of the building were unable to use the stairs or fire escapes, and those who were saved were taken down Fire Department ladders.

“Fire fighters had just entered the first floor lobby to reach the stairs when the stairs collapsed, driving the fire fighters out and sending 10 to the hospital with injuries. The fire had burned through the roof at this point, and a third alarm was called at 3:47. The fourth alarm was struck at 3:54, and a fifth alarm at 4:06 am. The fire was under control at 4:51 am. Twelve occupants were killed and ten are still unaccounted for. The identification of the victims has been difficult because a large portion of the upper floors collapsed, burying many of the victims.

“A series of incendiary fires in the area and the rapid spread of fire in the building, plus other facts regarding the incident, have caused authorities to list this as a fire of suspicious origin. Eleven fire fighters were injured fighting the fire. Damage is estimated at $290,000.” (NFPA. “Bimonthly Fire Record,” Fire Journal, Vol. 70, No. 2, March 1976, pp. 53-54.)

Newspapers

Dec 12, Oakland Tribune: “At least ten persons died shortly before dawn today as flames swept with explosive speed through a five-story Mission District Hotel in what police consider an arson-homicide. Firemen were continuing to comb the remains of the gutted Gartland Apartments-Hotel [495 Valencia St.] …for additions to the toll of nine bodies found in the ruins. Another victim died at San Francisco General Hospital…. All those who escaped from the 60-unit apartments did so down hastily erected firemen’s ladders….

“Police Inspector Jack Cleary said he considers the fire a homicide case after talking with [a] second floor resident…[who] reported a heavy smell of gasoline shortly before the fire broke out.

“First arriving firemen, about 4 a.m. reported seeing ‘a number of persons engulfed in flames’ as fire erupted from doors, windows, and exploded out the roof.” (Oakland Tribune. “10 Die in S.F. Holocaust,” December 12, 1975.)

Dec 13, UPI: “San Francisco (UPI) – Investigators are concentrating on known arsonists in their investigation of a fast-moving blaze that killed 12 persons as it roared through a condemned apartment building. Investigators said ‘incendiary material’ was found in the five-story building in the multiracial Mission District. One survivor said he smelled gasoline shortly before he realized there was a fire.

“Firemen also picked through the charred rubble for other possible victim’s in Friday’s predawn blaze.

“Nine of the 17 persons who were injured were reported in stable condition at San Francisco General Hospital. The others had been treated and released. One of the injured was a fire lieutenant who suffered disfiguring burns on his face. He had been scheduled to retire about four hours after the start of the blaze.

“Mayor Joseph Alioto told newsmen that police were looking for a ‘well-known arsonist.’ Police declined to comment on his statement.

“Alfred Goldberg, superintendent of the Bureau of Building Inspection, said the apartment was condemned in 1973 for 40 safety violations, including faulty wiring and enclosed stairways. In January, he said, the owner was sued. The building was owned by the Summit Land Co., a family firm headed by Mrs. Beatrice F. Presant, widow of an Oakland physician. Her attorney, Charles Morgan, said he was familiar with the lawsuit and it specified certain violations, ‘but I think most of those violations had been corrected.’

“Some area residents criticized the Fire Department for failing to arrive at the scene quick enough. Fire Chief Keith Calden denied this and said, ‘A minute is a long time when you’re standing in the window of a burning building.’….” (United Press International. “SF Arsonists Sought in Building Fire.” The Times, San Mateo, CA. 12-13-1975, p. 1.)

Dec 15, UPI: “San Francisco (UPI) – Firemen Sunday found the grisly remains of what may be the 13th victim of the arson-caused Gartland Apartments fire and Battalion Chief John Sherratt said he expects still more bodies will be found. Investigators probing the gutted apartment building found a human leg in the charred rubble but were not certain if it was a 13th victim or belonged to one of the dozen bodies already found in the wake of the Friday fire.” (United Press International. ‘13th Victim Found.” Red Bluff Daily News, CA. 12-15-1975, p. 1.)

Dec 17, Oakland Tribune: “Four of the 12 persons who died in a deliberately set fire that destroyed a five story apartment building at 495 Valencia St. in San Francisco last Friday were identified by the city coroner’s office yesterday. Dr. Boyd Stephens said identification in most cases involved the use of dental charts because the bodies were badly charred and in some cases partially cremated. Stephens said the identified victims are Martha Engledow, about 70; James Ward, about 60; Rose McKinness, 23, and her 18-month-old son, Christopher. Ward was resuscitated by fire fighters at the scene but died several hours later at the hospital. The coroner’s office has been unable to determine yet whether additional bone fragments found in the debris are from the same 12 bodies or belong to additional unknow victims. Stephens said 11 residents are unaccounted for.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “S.F. Fire Victims Identified.” 12-17-1975, p. 5.)

Dec 19, AP: “San Francisco (AP) – Authorities say they may never know the exact number of persons who died when an arson fire gutted a condemned apartment building here last week. Twelve bodies were found when fire fighters searched through the smoldering building after the blaze last Friday. Only four have been positively identified and authorities say 11 residents still are unaccounted for. Assistant fire chief Andrew Caspar said that there is ‘always the possibility of finding more bodies, but it’s an intangible.’ He said fire fighters will continue searching for several more days, but they can’t explore some areas because of the precarious condition of floors and walls. He said the whole central area of the five-story building had collapsed….” (AP. “Exact SF Fire Toll May Never Be Known.” The Register, Santa Ana, CA. 12-19-1975, C4.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Exact SF Fire Toll May Never Be Known.” The Register, Santa Ana, CA. 12-19-1975, p. C4. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/santa-ana-register-dec-19-1975-p-28/

Garofoli, Joe. “Remember the Gartland!/Wall dancers invoke deadly ’75 fire as rallying cry for affordable housing.” SFGate, 9-14-2002. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://www.sfgate.com/politics/joegarofoli/article/Remember-the-Gartland-Wall-dancers-invoke-2770426.php

Oakland Tribune, CA. “10 Die in S.F. Holocaust,” 12-12-1975. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=31325421

Oakland Tribune, CA. “S.F. Fire Victims Identified.” 12-17-1975, p. 5. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-dec-17-1975-p-5/

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Still No Suspects In Arson Deaths.” 12-14-1975, p. 3C. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-dec-14-1975-p-5/

National Fire Protection Association. “Bimonthly Fire Record,” Fire Journal, Vol. 70, No. 2, March 1976, pp. 52.54.

National Fire Protection Association. The 1984 Fire Almanac. Quincy, MA: NFPA, 1983.

United Press International. ‘13th Victim Found.” Red Bluff Daily News, CA. 12-15-1975, p. 1. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/red-bluff-daily-news-dec-15-1975-p-1/

United Press International. “SF Arsonists Sought in Building Fire.” The Times, San Mateo, CA. 12-13-1975, p. 1. Accessed 10-18-2021 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-mateo-times-dec-13-1975-p-86/