Petaluma Steel Company Blamed by Officials for SF Fire in March

San Francisco fire officials said today that TC Steel of Petaluma was the subcontractor whose work is believed to have started the large blaze at a construction site in the city's Mission Bay neighborhood in March.

Fire officials said TC Steel's president, Tom Cleary, has been cited and fined $1,000 for being out of compliance with the city's fire code.

The company was doing hot work welding at the construction site at 1200 4th Street, according to fire officials.

The massive five-alarm blaze, which destroyed a 172-unit, six-floor residential complex at 1200 4th St., was reported shortly before 5 p.m. on March 11.

San Francisco fire officials said in a recent report that the fire was accidental and occurred after "an event involving a wire welding unit or grinder between the top floor and the 'high roof' area."

The report said the fire caused $40 million in property damage. The structure was part of a larger project known as MB360 that was being developed by BRE Properties of San Francisco.

The work was being done by Boston-based Suffolk Construction with the assistance of many subcontractors.

Cleary and other TC Steel officials couldn't immediately be reached for comment tonight.

--Bay City News