Source Of 5-Alarm SF Fire Traced To Hardware Store
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) -- A two-story building that contained a ground-level hardware store and residential units above it has been determined to be the source of a weekend five-alarm San Francisco fire, but the cause has yet to be determine, authorities said Monday.
The blaze burned at least six buildings and displaced 57 people on Saturday afternoon. The debris was still smoldering on Sunday as firefighters tended to hotspots.
Fire investigators concluded the fire started somewhere inside the building, located at 3312, 3314 and 3316 Mission St., according to San Francisco fire spokesman Jonathan Baxter. The building housed a Cole Hardware store and four residential units above it.
As the fire began to spread to more buildings on Saturday, firefighters ordered residents in the 3300 block of Mission Street to evacuate. Additionally, a shelter-in-place order was given to residents in surrounding blocks.
Firefighters contained the fire and eventually declared it under control at 6:35 a.m. Sunday.
Of the 57 displaced by the fire, at least half came from the Graywood Hotel, a building with mostly single-room occupancy units located at 3308 Mission St., according to Baxter.
Two people were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. A 1-year-old child was treated at the scene for breathing problems, but was not taken to the hospital.
Firefighters were also able to recover two dogs and two cats from inside the affected buildings and reunited them with their owners.
After the fire, firefighters thoroughly searched the buildings and did not find any dead animals inside any of the buildings.
Fire investigators concluded that the sprinkler systems inside all the buildings worked.
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