San Francisco fire rips through Sunset hardware store, apartments
SAN FRANCISCO - Firefighters contained a three-alarm multi-structure fire in San Francisco's Inner Sunset neighborhood Tuesday night. There are no injuries to report at this time.
San Francisco Fire Department Chief Jeanine Nicholson confirmed the department was notified of the fire, at 8th Avenue between Lincoln Way and Irving Street, at around 8:15 p.m.
San Francisco Fire Department Captain Jonathan Baxter said the fire involved three buildings, including a three-story, multi-residential, garden-style living complex at 1279 8th Ave., a hardware store, and a shed in the rear of the hardware store. Several businesses are in this area along Irving St.
As many as 100 firefighters with more than 30 rigs were working to extinguish it. Once the fire was under control, Nicholson said she was proud of the fire department's work.
The chief explained the large response was in part because of challenging construction containing a sheer wall in the back of the buildings that were on fire. "We had to cut through solid wood to get into the walls where the fire was," Nicholson said. The response was also because of the densely populated area.
Fire crews contain three-alarm multi-structure fire in Inner Sunset
A multi-structure fire in San Franciscos Inner Sunset neighborhood was contained by as many as 100 firefighters Tuesday night. Officials say there were no injuries associated with this fire at two residential buildings and a hardware store. The fire remains under investigation.
Officials said the fire was intense on the second floor.
"There will be quite a few displacements, however," Nicholson said. She said at least 12 residential units were affected, but that number could change.
The Red Cross is at the scene to assist the displaced residents.
Google Maps shows Sunset Apartments is located at this address.
"It's crazy. It's sad. I'm really sad for the people in the apartment," said Randy Blair, owner of Progress Hardware. "I was sitting on the couch with my father watching the Giants game and we got a text message from a friend of ours. Gave us the text and jumped up and drove down here and saw the news, saw the windows busted out. It spread…the building that you know our hardware store is I guess the back room and the break room, I guess caught some of the brunt of the damage."
San Francisco Fire Department battle a 2-alarm structure fire involving a residential complex and hardware store.
Still image of SF Sunset fire taken from Citizen app.
Investigators were trying to determine the cause and origin of the fire.
The public was asked to avoid the area until further notice, as crews continued to work. The fire is just south of Golden Gate Park near where the California Academy of Sciences is located.
A GoFundMe for the owners of the hardware store can be accessed here.