Haighteration's Biggest Stories of 2011: Number Four

This week, we're counting down our five biggest stories of the year -- measured in traffic, comments, "likes" and tweets. These are the stories that garnered the most attention, caused the most fuss, or tickled your collective funnybones the most in 2011. Today, we present the fourth-biggest Haighteration story of the year, reposted in its entirety.

---

Fire Engulfs House on Waller Street

Original post date: July 20, 2011 A fire broke out at a home at 436 Waller Street at around 6:30pm tonight, filling the neighborhood with smoke and bringing dozens of firefighters to the scene to battle the blaze. The fire, captured in the dramatic photo above by nearby neighbor Kory B., appears to have started on the ground floor of the building. Kory first spotted flames roaring out from the rear of the house's first floor, before spreading upward to the second floor, and then eventually the roof. Pedestrians could be seen coughing and covering their mouths as smoke billowed from the house, quickly filling the intersection of Waller and Fillmore. Dozens of firefighters battled the fire for over an hour before the flames abated. One firefighter appeared to be having trouble breathing after emerging from the house. The scene also drew hundreds of onlookers to Waller Street, who watched from behind caution tape as firefighters controlled the blaze. One particularly anguished bystander was this fellow, who had been housesitting at the home for the past week and a half. Luckily he escaped from the house without injury, and says that no one else was injured in the blaze. He told us he does not know how the fire started. By 8pm, the flames had been extinguished, but firefighters continued to douse the house's smoldering remains with water. Here are a few more photos sent in by Haighteration readers:

---

Thanks to the brave men and women of the SFFD for bringing the fire under control. If we learn what caused the fire, or any other details for that matter, we'll be sure to let you know.