BART 'hazmat Situation' May Be Linked To Explosive San Francisco House Fire

A BART train stops at the platform of the El Cerrito del Norte BART station on July 6, 2022 in El Cerrito, California.

LAST FEBRUARY 10 4:30 p.m. A "materially unsafe situation" that closed BART stations Colma, Balboa Park and Daly City Friday morning may be related to an explosive home fire in San Francisco's Sunset neighborhood that occurred Thursday. February 9 officials told SFGATE.

On Feb. 10, investigators recovered items from the scene of the fire, San Francisco Police Department spokeswoman Nicole Pacetti wrote.

"While these items were being transported, drivers stopped in Daly City," Pacetti said, without giving details. San Francisco Fire Department officials did not immediately respond to SFGATE's request for comment.

At 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 10, BART stations Colma and Daly City reopened after both stations were closed due to reports of hazardous materials in the area, officials tweeted.

"The red/yellow/green/blue line has resumed with delays between all stations in both directions," BART said.

February 10, 12:30 p.m. The Daly City and Colma BART stations were closed Friday morning due to a "possible dangerous situation" near the Daly City station, according to a tweet from the transport authority.

Both stations remained closed at midday, and service was also canceled.

Just before 9:00 am on February 10, authorities received reports that a white pickup truck may be leaking propane or butane near the intersection of Juniper Serre and John Daly Boulevards in Daly City. The drivers called 911 a short time later.

“They stopped on the long side of the street. There was a gas leak from one of the containers they were carrying,” North County Deputy Fire Chief Craig Witner told SFGATE. "As I said, it is suspected to be butane or propane but not positively identified."

Around 10:15 a.m., the Daly City station was evacuated and service between Balboa Park and Colma suspended, BART media officer Jim Allison told SFGATE in an email.

A hazmat team and related agencies, including the San Francisco and Daly City Police Departments, responded to the scene, Wittner continued.

The transit agency reopened the Balboa Park station at 11:25 a.m. after it was also closed in the incident. The 280 freeway and roads near the incident are also closed, BART said in a later statement.

Several alternate transportation options, including the San Francisco Muni bus near the Daly City station, are also unavailable.

"The stations will reopen when they are determined to be safe," Alison said. "Caltrain serves passengers who would normally use BART."