Sirens wailed early Tuesday morning in San Francisco to remember the moment when the devastating 1906 earthquake struck the city and started fires that left few city buildings standing.
Shortly after 5:10 a.m., in the cavern of buildings at Kearny and Geary streets near Market Street, fire, police and ambulance sirens echoed among the 300 or so people who gathered to call to mind the roughly 3,000 people who died.
The golden glow of streetlights shown on the group, which stood at Lotta’s Fountain where neighbors gathered 111 years ago to find out whether their relatives were OK and to leave notes for missing family members.
A wreath was laid at the fountain as part of the annual memorial. Among those who were there were Mayor Ed Lee, Police Chief William Scott, Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White and former mayor Willie Brown.
Following the gathering at the fountain, a group met at 20th and Church streets where a fire hydrant that was used to save buildings in the Mission District from fire was painted gold, another part of the commemoration.
Family members of survivors helped paint the hydrant. All of the known survivors of the quake have died, event spokesman Lee Houskeeper said.
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Thomas Morgan said:
Why not move to 4 districts and have full time president voted on county wide?
nicholasdobbs said:
nicholasdobbs said:
nicholasdobbs said:
nicholasdobbs said:
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