Two-Alarm Fire Damages 40-Year-Old Restaurant & Bar Near SF's Presidio

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- Fire crews are investigating what sparked a two-alarm blaze that damaged a popular restaurant and bar near San Francisco's Presidio Wednesday morning, an assistant fire chief said.

The fire was reported at 7:30 a.m. at Liverpool Lil's at 2942 Lyon St. near Lombard Street and the entrance to the Presidio from the Marina District.

A second alarm was called at 7:48 a.m. The blaze was contained about 50 minutes later and crews began being released from the scene shortly before 9 a.m., fire officials said.

Assistant Fire Chief Kevin Burke said the fire apparently started in the rear of the two-story building and extended into the walls and attic above office space on the second floor.

Burke said Liverpool Lil's sustained water and smoke damage and firefighters also had to cut holes in the roof for ventilation while trying to extinguish the blaze.

"They're going to be out for a while," he said of the restaurant, which has been in the restaurant for more than 40 years.

An adjacent building at 2938 Lyon St. also sustained extensive damage because firefighters had to go into the walls to make sure flames hadn't spread there, Burke said.

Investigators haven't determined if anyone was in Liverpool Lil's when the fire started, he said.

Raymond Archer, the concierge at the nearby Travelodge at 2755 Lombard St., said a portion of the hotel was briefly evacuated during the response to the blaze but that fire crews have since allowed the occupants to return to their rooms.

"The fire crews did an amazing job of stopping the fire before it reached the hotel," Archer said.

Fire officials did not say how much damage was caused to Liverpool Lil's, which has been in the neighborhood for more than 40 years, according to its website.

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