sffd_firefighters.jpg1:23 PM: It’s confirmed — the “explosion” type noise was actually a generator backfiring on the 23rd floor of Le Meridien. What folks thought was smoke was exhaust from the generator. Still, good looking out, everybody.

12:52: ABC7 is reporting that the explosion people heard was “a generator that backfired during a test on the 25th floor of the Le Meridien hotel.”

12:42 PM: SFFD Lt. Mindy Talmadge is confirming Appeal reader reports of a fire or explosion in the Financial District. Talmadge says that they just received the report themselves, which at this time is being described as “an explosion followed by black smoke” at the Le Meridien hotel at Battery and Sansome.

Talmadge says units have been dispatched, and that she’ll have more information soon. Any of you folks downtown see or hear anything? If so, let’s hear it.

the author

Eve Batey is the editor and publisher of the San Francisco Appeal. She used to be the San Francisco Chronicle's Deputy Managing Editor for Online, and started at the Chronicle as their blogging and interactive editor. Before that, she was a co-founding writer and the lead editor of SFist. She's been in the city since 1997, presently living in the Outer Sunset with her husband, cat, and dog. You can reach Eve at eve@sfappeal.com.

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