Four South San Francisco Firefighters Hospitalized for Smoke Inhalation from San Bruno Fire

Nearly all of South San Francisco's fire units screamed down the streets on Thursday night toward the San Bruno fire triggered by a gas explosion.

"It's a seamless response," said battalion chief Dave Quasney.  "The closest engines go no matter what city it's from."

Four out of South City's five fire engines and both of its paramedic units went the fire.  The firefighters fought back the blaze and helped people escape.

"When we pulled up, there were people everywhere," said Ron Avellar, an eight-year veteran of the South San Francisco fire department.  "There was a point where we saw a lady coming up the road through the middle of the fire.  We don't know where she came from.  We put on our air packs and went until we got through to her, and grabbed her and hustled her out."

Avellar said this was the biggest fire he'd seen, aside from a wildfire.

Four South City firefighters were hospitalized and later released last night.

"They're all doing well," said Quasney.  "They suffered from pretty bad smoke inhalation.  They're all resting at home."

All South City fire engines are back from the fire, but the department still has a search and rescue unit and a dog unit in the field.  Quasney said he anticipates it will take three days before the units can come home.  They're waiting for houses to cool so they can search through them.