Bay Area Briefs

A Caltrans worker fell to his death from the Benicia Bridge yesterday afternoon, according to Caltrans spokesman Jeff Weiss.

The worker, who was part of a structural steel paint crew, fell "a distance of about 100 feet onto the top of one of the bridge piers'' at about 3 p.m., Weiss said.

The victim died of his injuries at the scene.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health, or Cal/OSHA, has sent an investigator to the scene to begin a probe into what happened.

"Our Concord Cal/OSHA office received a call from Caltrans at 3:40 that a painter had fallen from the Benicia Bridge,'' said Cal/OSHA spokesman Dean Fryer.

The investigator will "look at all the facts involved to see what safety (equipment) was provided,'' Fryer said.

The painter's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

Two dead, three

injured in San Francisco fire

The San Francisco Medical Examiner's Office reports two people found dead after a three-alarm fire this morning might not be identified for several weeks, as their bodies were burned beyond recognition.

Two deaths and three injuries were reported as a result of the early-morning three-alarm blaze, and fire Capt. Pete Howes reports two firefighters were among the injured.

The fire was first reported around 3:35 a.m. at 1437 Hyde St.

Howes says firefighters arrived on the scene approximately three minutes later with 70 firefighters. A third alarm was called moments later, bringing the total number of firefighters to 125, Howes said.

The firefighters fought for about one hour before the blaze was contained. In the process, Howes said firefighters found two people dead and rescued others by ladder.

The fire also spread to adjoining addresses at 1435 and 1439 Hyde St., Howes said, and those buildings were evacuated.

According to Howes, one resident was transported to a local hospital for smoke inhalation, and two firefighters were treated for minor injuries. One firefighter received lacerations to the leg and another received lacerations to the head, Howes said. The injuries are not said to be life threatening.

Herb Hawley with the Medical Examiner's Office said that dental comparisons or DNA technology may have to be used to identify the deceased.

American Red Cross spokeswoman Maria Corral reports that approximately 14 residents have been displaced from their homes because of this incident. Corral said, "The building that was directly affected by the fire has significant damage, and residents probably will not be allowed back in.''

The cause of the fire, and the estimated amount of damage it wrought, is under investigation.

Human skull found

Sonoma County authorities said a human skull was found yesterday morning in the Jenner area not far from the Sonoma Coast.

The Sheriff's Department said a man found the skull in rugged terrain a short distance from state Highway 116 around 10:30 a.m.

The case has been classified as a suspicious death. Investigators are still at the scene processing other evidence, Sgt. Steve Freitas said.

The skull, containing teeth, was taken to the Sonoma County Coroner's Office.