06/06/2011 // WPB, FL, USA // Personal Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley

San Francisco, CA — A house fire Thursday afternoon, June 2, 2011, on the 100 block of Berkeley Way left one San Francisco firefighter dead and two other fire men injured. The blaze was sparked around 10:45 a.m. in a four-story home that sits on a hillside facing Glen Canyon, which made it difficult for firefighters to extinguish the flames, reported ABC 7 KGO-TV.

According to police officials, the firefighters were inside of the home when they reported experiencing a “flash” while fighting the fire. A flash occurs when everything inside the home that is combustible suddenly ignites at once. This is one of the most dangerous situations a firefighter can face.

When the flash occurred, an emergency signal was triggered and when the firefighters gave no response to dispatch, a rescue team was sent in after them.

“They went in and did their operations and at some point two of our members were found down on the ground and they were pulled out and transported to the hospital,” San Francisco Fire Department spokesperson Mindy Talmadge said.

One firefighter, identified as 48-year-old Lt. Vincent Perez, was killed while battling the blaze. A second firefighter, identified as Anthony Valerio, 53, was injured and is listed in critical condition at San Francisco General Hospital. A third firefighter, a female, is in fair condition and has been released from the hospital.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee said in a statement Thursday afternoon, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic death of a SFFD firefighter who died today in the line of duty. This is a devastating day for our City, and I join all of San Francisco in expressing our deepest gratitude and profound sorrow for the loss one of our own.”

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for California work-related accident lawyers.

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