The San Francisco Fire Department has ordered evacuations at 41 Tehama and four surrounding buildings: 44, 56 and 58 Tehama and 543 Howard.
#021517EV1 UPDATE ***EVACUATIONS*** 543 HOWARD 41-44-56-58 TEHEMA IMMEDIATE EVACUATIONS POTENTIAL CEMENT SLAB FAILURE pic.twitter.com/RawntfUzYT
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) February 15, 2017
According to tweets from the scene, a crane carrying a 2,000-pound concrete slab 30 stories in the air has failed, prompting the evacuation.
***EVACUATIONS***41 Tehema 30th floor loose concrete slab set 2k Lbs loose potential to fail AVOID AREA 41 Tehema being evacuated 254 Hrs pic.twitter.com/kAuoR0Otzn
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) February 15, 2017
Video: 41 Tehama st in #sf where crane failure atop bed has caused nearby evacs pic.twitter.com/jMsRqk6mpo
— Jonah Owen Lamb (@jonahowenlamb) February 15, 2017
Loose concrete on 30th floor of 41 Tehama. 543 Howard being evacuated. It's a mess here. Find a different route to Bay Bridge folks. @CBSSF pic.twitter.com/c9E5i8zem3
— Andria Borba (@andria_borba) February 15, 2017
Officials have urged the public to avoid the area surrounding Howard, Folsom, 1st and 2nd streets.
We'll update this story as more information is released.
Update, 4:20pm: The Business Times reports that 10 surrounding buildings have now been evacuated: 543, 531, 527, 505, 547, 555 and 557 Howard St., 44 and 41 Tehama St., and 235 2nd St.
4:36pm: According to the Chron, fire officials have confirmed that the danger involves a malfunctioning crane that's leaning against a concrete wall of 41 Tehama. If the crane falls, it could knock a 2,000-pound slab of concrete off the building.
5:15pm: The SFPD reports that the following streets are currently closed: Howard between 2nd and 1st, Tehama between 2nd and 1st, and First Street between Howard and Folsom.
CHP and Caltrans have also closed the I-80 exit ramp to Fremont Street.
6pm: Lendlease—the general contractor on the tower under construction at 33/41 Tehama—has issued a statement that previous reports that a 2,000-pound slab threatening to fall from the tower are false.
According to the statement, 33 Tehama "had an interior forming system had a partial hydraulic failure" between levels 35 and 36.
"The interior forming system and the concrete placement arm have been secured and are being evaluated by engineers to bring it back to level," the statement continues, noting that the crane towering above the site is not involved in this issue.
No injuries or damage have been reported.
#021517EV1 UPDATE MEDIA UPDATE PUSHED TO 545pm the following statement has been released pic.twitter.com/XuQvoJjVU7
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) February 16, 2017
SF Fire says "no imminent danger" at 41 Tehama @CBSSF
— Andria Borba (@andria_borba) February 16, 2017