1986 San Francisco fireworks disaster

37°43′34″N 122°22′47″W / 37.72622390379056°N 122.37963228592083°W / 37.72622390379056; -122.37963228592083 The 1986 San Francisco fireworks disaster took place on April 5, 1986, when a massive explosion and fire devastated a city block in the

At least eight people were killed and another 20 were injured.^[2] Within days, investigators learned that the explosion had occurred in a clandestine fireworks factory.^[3]

Damage was estimated at $10 million, and over a hundred small businesses were affected. The archives of

A 28-year-old man, Thomas C. Cuyos, was killed in the explosion, and investigators said that he was the operator of the illegal fireworks production facility. In 1985, Cuyos had founded Infinite Technology Inc. as a fireworks manufacturer, with headquarters outside San Francisco. Cuyos and his associates had told the owners of the Bayview Bullding that they ran a computer paper company.[5] Nolan Florita, 26 years old, had been helping Cuyos, and was also presumed killed.^[6]

On April 17, agents from the

Lawsuits lasted for four years. A settlement resulted in 125 plaintiffs sharing $9 million.[2]

In 2006, twenty years after the explosion, a memorial service honoring the victims was held at the San Francisco Zen Center.^[2]

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