SAN FRANCISCO – An intense investigation is underway in the wake of an early Saturday morning fire that ravaged a warehouse at the famed Fisherman’s Wharf.

The fire began at a warehouse on Pier 45 at about 4:15 a.m. sending thick plumes of smoke into the air. The situation "evolved rapidly" from a one-alarm fire to four alarms, with 120 firefighters responding to the scene, Lt. Jonathan Baxter told KGO in an interview.

Firefighters worked to keep the flames from the historic SS Jeremiah O'Brien Liberty ship, which was threatened by the fire, Baxter said. The ship was successfully saved, he confirmed.

The blaze was kept to a warehouse in one area of the pier, however multiple walls of the burning warehouse collapsed. The warehouse holds fish processing equipment and a few offices and is typically unoccupied at night, Baxter said. Homeless people have been seen in buildings and warehouses in the area.

No other buildings were threatened by the flames, including Musée Mécanique, which is located at Pier 45 and holds antique arcade machines.

Occupants of Pier 45 were evacuated by firefighters. One firefighter was injured and was taken to a local hospital, but is expected to be okay.

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, Baxter said, and investigators will be looking into how the fire was ignited and assessing damage to the pier.

Story Date: May 29, 2020