Second San Francisco firefighter dies from burns suffered during house fire

A second San Francisco firefighter who suffered burns battling a house fire last week has died, according to the city's fire chief.

Tony Valerio, 53, succumbed to his injuries Saturday, according to San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White.

Valerio and fellow firefighter Lt. Vincent Perez were battling the blaze Thursday in the city's Diamond Heights neighborhood when they were overcome by a “flashover.”

A “flashover” is a surge of searing flame when everything in a room ignites at once.

The pair were taken to San Francisco General Hospital and listed in critical condition. Perez died Thursday.

Valerio and Perez were the first San Francisco firefighters killed in the line of duty in nearly a decade, the Associated Press reported.

-- Monte Morin