The ' '' 1906 San Francisco earthquake ' '' struck the city ( then the largest in California ) and nearby communities at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday , April 18 , 1906 . Devastating fires broke out in the city that lasted for several days , destroying about 28,000 buildings . As a result of the quake and fires , over 3,000 people died and over 80 % of San Francisco was destroyed . The death toll from the earthquake and resulting fire is the greatest loss of life from a natural disaster in California 's history
1906 San Francisco earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
History of California 1900–present