Dozens Left Homeless After SF SoMa Fire
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- Dozens of people have been left homeless after a four-alarm fire in a residential hotel in San Francisco's South of Market area.
The fire erupted at the three-story Park Hotel, a residential hotel at 1040 Folsom St. Flames quickly spread to an adjoining three-story building on Russ Street, and dark smoke billowed over Folsom Street.
American Red Cross spokesman Woody Baker-Cohn said residents of the building were being put up in disaster shelter for the night, while Red Cross officials worked on finding the displaced residents new places to live.
The Bay Area chapter of the Red Cross was providing meals, snacks and water to residents affected by the fire and firefighters alike, Red Cross spokesman Steve Sharp said Wednesday.
Approximately 75 people registered for Red Cross assistance, Sharp said, including 34 residents from the Russ Street building, with the remainder from the Park Hotel, Sharp said.
KCBS' Chris Filippi Reports:
The Red Cross planned to open a shelter at the Gene Friend Recreational Center, located at 270 Sixth St.
A San Francisco fire dispatcher said the blaze was first reported around 5:24 p.m. Wednesday.
At 6 p.m. the fire appeared to be intensifying, with flames shooting out of the building's roof and dark smoke billowing over Folsom Street.
Firefighters were on another section of the roof putting water on the fire and used chainsaws to cut a hole in the top of the building.
At least four wooden ladders were propped against the Park Hotel while firefighters worked to rescue occupants from the burning building.
Dark, yellowish smoke billowed from the Park Hotel, which had shattered windows. The smoke turned whiter in color as firefighters doused the flames.
Although police later taped off the area to usher onlookers to a safer distance, early on in the response, the crowd gathering near the intersection of Folsom and Russ streets could wander within 10 feet of the building in the path of the smoke.
One resident of the building on Russ Street, Danielle, who declined to give her last name, was home with her roommate and cat when the fire broke out next door.
"I saw it happen. I was in my kitchen. It hit our staircase," she said. "When it hit our staircase, I had to shut the door because the smoke started billowing up."
She said that she believed the fire started on the ground floor of the Park Hotel and that she initially believed they were safe in their apartment.
"I thought it would be OK," she said, but she suddenly realized the building was burning down and that they had to escape.
Although she grabbed her roommate, there was no time to find her cat.
"I wish I could get my cat," she said.
The nearly 100 firefighters who battled the blaze were able to get it under control around 7:30 p.m.
San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White told the San Francisco Chronicle that one resident and one firefighter were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
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