Great Fires:

During the Gold Rush boom, in San Francisco's early years, the city suffered six major fires. Because these fires destroyed 25 to 50% of the town, they were called Great Fires. As San Francisco quickly rebuilt herself rising from the ashes of those fires, the Phoenix became the symbol of the city.

On April 18, 1906, because the Richter magnitude of the earthquake was over 8.0, it is classified as a Great earthquake. In 1906, when half the city was lost, the earthquake caused 20% of the damage and the fire caused the other 80%.

• December 24, 1849
• May 4, 1850
• June 14, 1850
• September 17, 1850
• May 4, 1851
• June 22, 1851
• April 18, 1906 - The Great Earthquake & Fire

Notable Fires:

• 1852 32 Buildings Lost
• 1854 Sacramento Mutual Aid
• 1854 Golden Hotel & Davis Block
• 1855 Destructive Conflagration
• 1855 No. 6 - No. 12 Collision
• 1855 Novelty Distillery Works
• 1855 Case Planning Mill
• 1860 Pony Express
• 1860 Lyceum Theater
• 1861 Destructive Conflagration
• 1863 General Alarm
• 1863 Running Against Chief Scannell
• 1865 Rider & Somers
• 1866 1st Use of Paid Department Steam Engine
• 1867 Firehorse Rescue
• 1868 Cistern Gas Explosion
• 1870 General Alarm
• 1875 Murphy, Grant & Co.
• 1882 California Lumber Mill
• 1883 Palace Hotel
• 1885 Kimball Manufacturing Company
• 1885 H. S. Crocker & Co.
• 1886 A. L. Bancroft & Co.
• 1891 Centenary Church
• 1893 Page & Baker Streets
• 1893 Thomas Dye Works
• 1897 Shroth & Westerfield Bakery
• 1911 Chutes Amusement Park
• 1919 Post Street Store Fire
• 1946 Herbert Hotel
• 1948 United Automotive Service
• 1963 Lamey Gas Explosion
• 1975 Gartland Apartments
• 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake & Fire
• 1995 Everson Fire