Fire damages salon, hardware store, newsstand in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO - A three-alarm fire ripped through a row of businesses on West Portal Avenue in San Francisco on Tuesday night, damaging a salon, a hardware store and a small newsstand, which doubles as a grocery store.

The fire was reported at 10:42 p.m.

The smoke and flames damaged Papenhausen Hardware Store, Sloane Square Beauty Salon, the and the West Portal Daily newsstand and one other business that appeared to be under renovation, firefighters said. 

San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes White said all the businesses share a common attic. If there was any good news, she said, all the businesses were vacant at the time and there were no injuries.

An arson team will investigate, but she said it doesn't look suspicious on its face.