Crews rescue 5 from San Francisco Mission District fire

SAN FRANCISCO - Crews rescued five people from a two-alarm fire that broke out early Tuesday morning in the Mission District. 

Capt. Jonathan Baxter said three of those five were taken to the hospital for smoke inhalation. The fire broke out about 6 a.m. at 21st and Valencia streets. 

A woman who lives in the building told KTVU she heard a smoke alarm and alerted the other residents. 

"I knocked on everyone's door, just wake up," Michelle Rodriguez said.

An elderly couple was helped to safety and Victor Gonzales was one of the residents who got out by himself. 

"I grabbed what I could," he said. "I opened my front door again. That's when I saw the flames at my door and made my way out the fire escape." 

Video on Citizen App showed firefighters helping the people onto their ladder, propped up against the three-story apartment building, one person at a time. 

An arson investigator was called out to the scene. 

The fire appeared to have started on the top floor of the building.