West
California firefighter dies at San Diego beach after disappearing during swim
The body of a 25-year-old California firefighter was recovered off a San Diego pier early Thursday morning after a beach trip with family and friends, police said.
The Oakland Fire Department confirmed via Facebook that Caedan Laffan died unexpectedly Thursday morning, and that “drowning appears to be the cause of death.”
Lt. Rick Romero with the San Diego Fire-Rescue said it was “possible” alcohol was involved, KUSI reported. His exact cause of death is undetermined pending an autopsy.
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Caedan Laffan, 25, graduated from the Oakland Fire Academy in 2019 and joined his father at the Oakland Fire Department. His body was recovered off a San Diego pier on Thursday. (Oakland Fire Department/Facebook)
Laffan’s friends and family alerted lifeguards after the 25-year-old walked into the ocean about chest to waist deep near Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach, took a couple of strokes in the water, then disappeared from view.
The San Diego Police Department responded to the scene at 1:56 a.m., and a search began in the coastal area near Grand Avenue.
“We searched for a couple of hours with a rescue boat, land units, and a Coast Guard helicopter,” Romero told KTVU. “We weren’t able to locate him.”
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Laffan was reportedly in San Diego for the California Firefighter Summer Games. (Oakland Fire Department/Facebook)
Laffan’s body was recovered north of the pier around 4:15 a.m.
“Our lifeguard sergeant spotted him,” Romero said. “He had washed onto the beach on the north side of the pier. Unfortunately, incidents happen. And it’s just a sad story.”
The Oakland firefighter was in town to compete in the California Firefighter Summer Games, his department said.
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Laffan’s body was recovered just north of Pacific Beach’s Crystal Pier, pictured. (Photo by Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
Laffan’s body could be seen draped in a U.S. flag as police, fire personnel, friends and family carried him to the San Diego Medical Examiner’s van, according to KUSI.
“Caeden Laffan was a young enthusiastic member of the Oakland Fire Department, with a bright future ahead of him, and we’re all heartbroken today after learning of this tragic event,” Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington wrote in the department’s Facebook post. “Our hearts go out to the entire Laffan family, and all who know him, worked with him, and loved him.”
Firefighting was a legacy in Laffan’s family, according to KTVU. Laffan’s father was the Oakland Fire Department’s assistant fire chief before dying of a heart attack in the line of duty in 2020, his grandfather worked as a firefighter, his mother runs a business that offers mental health services to fire crews, and his younger brother Cooper is currently training in the fire academy.
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A Pacific Heights mansion that was once the priciest listing in San Francisco has traded hands as the already-hot spring market continues getting hotter.
The six-bedroom home at 2830 Pacific Avenue was initially listed in 2023 for $35 million before dropping to $27.5 million last spring and ultimately selling last week at that price, the San Francisco Business Times reported.
The seller was listed in records as Helena Trust, an entity tied to Hennessey Capital President Rajiv Ghatalia. Ghatalia bought the property in 2010 for nearly $8.4 million. The buyer is an LLC dubbed Almost Heaven, linked in state business records to the address of San Francisco-based financial services firm Andersen, though the buyer’s identity is unknown. Ghatalia and his wife are downsizing after their children moved out, according to the Business Times.
The Georgian Colonial home was built in 1910 and spans roughly 9,400 square feet. A 2012 renovation brought the home into the 21st century with a seismic retrofit, updated systems and a 1,500-bottle wine cellar. The home also has one of the first residential elevators in the city.
The sale arrives as fresh trophy listings continue to hit the market this spring. Homes priced above $5 million are seeing increased competition, driven in part by tech wealth and limited inventory in the city, which industry observers view as a symptom of the artificial intelligence boom as deep-pocketed buyers in the tech industry move into town. That surge in demand at the higher end of the market has led to a so-called mansion shortage, especially in tony neighborhoods like Pacific Heights.
Late last month, a Russian Hill mansion tied to Gap’s founding family hit the market for the first time. That home at 888 Francisco Street is listed for nearly $17.3 million. Also last month, a Pacific Heights property sold for $56 million, representing the priciest sale in the city so far this year, while another Pac Heights home at 2602 Jackson Street hit the market for $22.5 million. It’s not just single-family homes, either. A penthouse sold last month for more than $10 million, the Business Times reported.
— Chris Malone Méndez
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Tickets from the May 4, 2026 game are valid for the
The West Seattle Junction space formerly occupied by Willow, preceded by Fleurt, will not be empty for long. A familiar Junction fashion entrepreneur is moving into 4536 California SW – here’s the announcement:
Well-known West Seattle staple Carmilia’s announced today that it will open a new store in the Alaska Junction, offering everything from skincare products to fashion accessories. The new store, located at 4536 California Ave SW, formerly home to Fleurt and Willow, will do a soft opening on Art Walk Night, May 14, 2026. Carmilia’s owner, Linda Walsh, is at the helm of the project.
The store will be filled with all of Walsh’s favorite things: shoes, accessories, and gifts, at a variety of price points. It’s the perfect place to find unique and playful items for your next celebration or shopping spree. The store’s scheduled hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, and Sunday 10 am-4 pm.
Walsh told us she hasn’t yet settled on a name, so if you pass the future shop’s windows you will probably see “Watch This Space” as a placeholder!
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