Firefighters battle 2-alarm blaze at San Francisco cosmetics business
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco firefighters were able to stop the spread of a two-alarm fire that broke out at a cosmetics company in Laurel Heights late Monday morning.
An employee at the Bluemercury on California Street between Locust and Spruce streets said he and one co-worker were alone in the store when a man came in and told them the sign on the back of the building was on fire.
"When I walked back the only smoke was in the stairwell," store employee Kevin Vuorenmaa-Navarro told CBS News Bay Area, "We got out, went to the back, and then it just got worse from there. It was a little frightening We just wanted to get out as soon as we could and let everyone know."
No one was hurt, and firefighters were able to keep the flames from spreading to the two neighboring businesses -- a First Republic Bank branch, and Standard 5 & 10 Ace Hardware.
"It actually kind of started getting into the walls, and we wanted to put it out before it got into the attic space and spread through this type of buildings," said San Francisco Fire Department Assistant Chief Ken Yee. "It's easily spreadable once it gets into the attic space and affects all the buildings next to it."
Both of those businesses did sustain some smoke damage.
"I think we're OK," said Jeff Leopold, who owns the Ace Hardware. "I've been back inside only once, and there was some smoke. We have a concrete wall, which may have saved us."
SFFD is still investigating what caused the fire.
Residents can expect traffic delays and should consider alternative routes as emergency crews are on the scene.