Chilling photos of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fires set the city ablaze

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Homeless_in_Jefferson_Square
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck the coast of Northern California on April 18.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist
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In the early hours of the morning on April 18, 1906, Americans in the San Francisco Bay Area woke amidst an earth-shattering quake. While the 7.8 magnitude earthquake only lasted a minute, it ruptured 296 miles of California's coastline, and its consequences devastated the region.

Some 500 city blocks — with more than 25,000 buildings — were destroyed, and rampant fires spread through the city and burned for three days. More than half of city residents were left homeless, and 3,000 people died in the shaking and subsequent fires.

Read More: Why San Francisco is a nightmare, according to science

Louis P. Selby, an amateur photographer, was working in his family's confectionery shop on Market Street when the greatest natural disaster that ever hit San Francisco occurred. Selby grabbed a camera and took to the streets to document the aftermath of the 1906 earthquake.

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More than a century later, Selby's grandson published the never-before-seen photos in a book: "When San Francisco Burned: A Photographic Memoir of the Great San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906."

Here's what happened in San Francisco 103 years ago, shot through the lens of a local confectioner.

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The 1906 earthquake that struck San Francisco had a rough magnitude of 7.8 and ranks as one of the most significant earthquakes of all time because of the damage it caused.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Fire_Coming_Up_Larkin
Larkin Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Even though the quake was only a minute long, it caused irreparable damage to the city. San Francisco's City Hall was decimated.

sf earthquake
View of the ruined tower of the City Hall.
National Archives
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Some 500 city blocks — with more than 25,000 buildings — were destroyed.

sf earthquake
Houses built on loose ground keeled over during the quake.
National Archives

Massive fires followed the earthquake and swallowed entire city blocks whole.

sf earthquake
No. 21. St. Francis Hotel, Fairmount Hotel in distance showing clean sweep of fire in business section of all except class A steel frame buildings.
National Archives

Source: National Archives

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The tremors broke the city's water mains, making it nearly impossible for firefighters to quell the spreading blazes.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Call_Building_Afire
The Call Building on Third Street and Market Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: HISTORY

The fires burned for several days. By the time they'd been brought under control, more than half of San Francisco's 400,000 population were left homeless.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Fell_Street_Near_Gough
Fell Street near the intersection at Gough Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives and HISTORY

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Most residents escaped the fires with just the clothes on their back. The rich and the poor alike were hungry, thirsty, filthy, and distressed — unable to contact their families.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Rescuing_the_Injured_from_Valencia_Hotel
Valencia Street Hotel on Valencia Street between 18th and 19th Streets.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Some earthquake refugees had to take shelter in military-run camps outside the city.

sf earthquake
A camp in Golden Gate Park under military control.
National Archives
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An Army general based in San Francisco later wrote that the city had "in 48 hours, not only been relegated to conditions of primitive life, but were also hampered by ruins and debris."

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Golden_Gate_Park
Golden Gate Park.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: Earthquake in California

The public desperately needed drinking water, so engineers began working on a backup system on day one. The US Navy brought water and milk on ships.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Market_Street_Looking_West
Market Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist
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Relief stations were also set up by the US Navy and Army to distribute blankets, tents, and food. Here we see soldiers giving handouts in Jackson Square Park.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Soldiers_Distributing_Food_to_the_Hungry
Jackson Square.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Refugees waited in long lines for bread. Cooking indoors was forbidden to help mitigate the risk of spreading fires.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, After_the_Fire_Waiting_for_Food
Location unknown.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

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Looting became an issue. People ran into burning buildings and rummaged through the rubble.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Homeless_Union_Square_April_18_1906
Union Square.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

Souvenir hunters scavenged through the wreckage for items to salvage and sell.

sf earthquake
In the aftermath, these looters caused considerable trouble to the military authorities.
National Archives
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Three thousand people died in the aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent fires.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Remains_of_a_Victim
This man's body was allegedly left on the street to deter would-be looters.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

People took shelter in tents and small wooden cottages, which became known as "earthquake shacks," in city parks and in the Presidio. Meanwhile, aid flowed in from around the world.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Fire_Approaching_Larkin_Street
Larkin Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: National Archives

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Surprisingly, San Francisco bounced back quickly. The wipeout gave city planners an opportunity to build better, safer infrastructure.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Just_Before_Fire_Reached_Call_Building
Near the Call Building on Third Street and Market Street.
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

Source: HISTORY

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The earthquake of 1906 remains the most devastating disaster San Francisco has ever seen... for now.

"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist, Watching_the_Fire_in_the_Distance
"When San Francisco Burned" by Douglas L. Gist

There's more than a 75% chance that the San Francisco Bay Area will experience a magnitude 7.0 earthquake within the next 30 years, according to experts from the US Geological Survey.

Melia Robinson contributed to an earlier version of this story.

Photography San Francisco Fire
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