Members of a historic church in San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood are picking up the pieces following a devastating fire that shattered stained-glass windows, destroyed the roof and caused the partial collapse of an exterior wall. More than 100 firefighters responded to the blaze at the Seventh-day Adventist church, a neighborhood landmark since the 1890s. San Francisco Fire Chief Dean Crispen said the church’s size and age created special challenges for crews. “Some of them have never been to a fire of this magnitude before,” Crispen said. “So we did learn a lot about the capabilities of our auxiliary water supply system. We were able to pull water from a high-pressure water system.” Crispen noted the high-pressure nozzles sprayed brown water due to sediment in the system’s reservoirs and tanks. Fire units remained on the scene the following day to monitor for flare-ups and assess the structural integrity of the collapsed wall. Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire, including whether it was connected to a renovation project underway at the church. The fire also caused collateral damage to the building next door, displacing residents and temporarily shuttering Eliza’s Restaurant, a family business that opened about 35 years ago. The restaurant owners, who live in an apartment above the business, safely evacuated with an infant but sustained significant water damage to their home. Crispen toured the damage with Emily, a family member of the restaurant’s owners. “We’re definitely closed this entire week, but once we are open back up please, we encourage you to come,” Emily said. “Send them some love. This is a family business, it’s all my uncles and aunts, my parents.” The church’s lead pastor spent much of the day on site assessing the ruins. According to a prepared statement, the congregation will join a nearby Seventh-day Adventist church for its July 4 services. ...read more read less