The quake—caused by shifts in the earth miles below the surface—struck at 5:12 A.M. and created one of the worst disasters in United States history. Hundreds of buildings collapsed, gas mains broke, and fires spread swiftly, engulfing the city center. More than six square miles were reduced to rubble and ash, and over 3,000 people were killed. Many towns and villages were damaged in the earthquake, but only San Francisco was ravaged by fire. Fires raged for three days and three nights. Fire Chief Dennis Sullivan died after his house collapsed, leaving no one in charge of the fire-fighting effort. Mansions burned as well as slums, and many people were separated from their families. Notices were tacked up all over town, and especially at the tent cities in Golden Gate Park, to help people reunite with loved ones. The tent cities were organized by the army, following orders from President Theodore Roosevelt. Over 250,000 people were homeless, and more than 100,000 of them lived for months in the park, standing in long lines at relief stations for free food, water, and clothing and sleeping in temporary shelters.
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