11:07 PM: Firefighters have contained a three-alarm fire in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, a fire that a police spokesman said injured 20 people.
Officer Albie Esparza said the fire in the 200 block of Eddy Street broke out somewhere on the structure’s first floor, causing smoke and flames to move throughout the building. According to KTVU broadcast, the fire was in a 6-story building known as the “Franciscan Towers,” which is owned by the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Group.
Esparza said that 20 people were injured and that, of those, four people were transported to a hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. KTVU broadcast is reporting a higher number, saying that 22 residents of the building required medical attention.
A call reporting the fire near Taylor and Eddy streets came in at 8:53 p.m., according to fire dispatchers. The second alarm was added at about 9:15 p.m., and the third alarm was added at 9:34 p.m.
Firefighters contained the blaze roughly an hour and twenty minutes later at 10:11 p.m.
According to dispatchers, an unknown number of people had been evacuated from the building.
A person answering the phone at a nearby business, Daldas Grocery at 200 Eddy St., said that the fire had been burning across the street at 201 Eddy St., a six-story building.
The store clerk, who said he was watching the action from inside the business, said he counted five fire trucks in front of the building that was billowing smoke.
He said he “saw some flames that appeared to be coming from the top of the building” and that “lots of people” had been standing outside on the blocked-off road.
“They’ve been evacuating people from the emergency exits,” he said.
People in downtown San Francisco near the Metreon, at Fourth and Mission Streets, which is about six blocks away, reported an unusual burning smell and lingering smog and smoke.
American Red Cross Spokesman Jim Mallory said that the agency had set up an evacuation center directly across the street at 230 Eddy St.
As of 10:50 p.m., 50 people were at the center, he said, although the response team had not yet determined how many of those displaced residents would need accommodations for the night. According to KTVU broadcast, 111 residents of the building ended up seking shelter from the Red Cross.
Mallory said that assistance could also include food stipends.
10:02 PM: Firefighters are working a three-alarm fire in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood, a fire dispatcher said. According to SFPD, at least six people have been injured in the blaze.
A call reporting the fire near Taylor and Eddy streets came in at 8:53 p.m.
A second dispatcher said the second alarm was added at about 9:15 p.m. and that the affected building was on Eddy Street between Taylor and Jones streets. She said that an unknown number of people had been evacuated from the building.
The third alarm was added at 9:34 p.m.
According to a statement sent by SFPD, the blaze is described as “a first floor fire with flames and smoke spreading through (the) building.”
Police say that at least six people required medical attention, but did not have further word on their condition.
A person answering the phone at a nearby business, Daldas Grocery at 200 Eddy St., said that the fire was burning across the street at 201 Eddy St., a six-story building.
The store clerk, who said he was watching the action from inside the business, said he counted five fire trucks in front of the building that was billowing smoke.
He said he “saw some flames that appeared to be coming from the top of the building” and that “lots of people” were standing outside on the blocked-off road.
“They’ve been evacuating people from the emergency exits,” he said.
People in downtown San Francisco near Metreon, at Fourth and Mission Streets, which is about six blocks away, reported an unusual burning smell and lingering smog and smoke.
SFPD is advising people to stay away from area and traffic to use alternate routes. Traffic delays are to be expected.
Police do not have details on the cause of the fire at this time.
An American Red Cross spokesman said that the agency was contacted by the fire department and that as of 10 p.m., a disaster assistance team was traveling to the site.
Red Cross Spokesman Jim Mallory said that the team would assess the situation and determine how many people might need assistance, which could be in the form of temporary housing or food stipends.
Eve Batey contributed to this report from Patricia Decker of Bay City News
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