California Steel Subcontractor Cited in San Francisco Fire

San Francisco fire officials say work being done by a steel subcontractor is believed to have ignited a massive blaze that barreled through an apartment building construction site in San Francisco in March.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported Monday that the president of Petaluma-based TC Steel, Tom Cleary, was cited and fined $1,000 this month for being out of compliance with the city’s fire code.

Officials say the March 11 blaze likely started from sparks that came from cutting and welding work.

Neither Cleary nor TC Steel could be immediately reached for comment.

The fire gutted the 172-unit residential complex building and damaged three other structures in the Mission Bay neighborhood.

A report estimated damage at about $40 million.