Large fire near The Castro Theatre

SAN FRANCISCO - A large fire erupted early Saturday morning near the famed Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

Fire Chief Jeanine Nicholson said the fire broke out about 4:30 a.m. in the back of a mixed-use building at 456 Castro Street near 18th Street. The structure had restaurants and businesses on the bottom and apartments on top. Flames then spread to a second building. Crews gained control of the blaze aobut 6 a.m. 

Crews were checking to see if there was damage to two other nearby buildings.

But in the end, the fire didn't come close to touching the theater. 

"We saw all water from the top floor and a lot of water and smoke damage," said evacuee Troy Boud. "We're waiting to hear from fire department to see what the real damage is." 
 
Two people were hurt in the fire, Nicholson said. One person suffered smoke inhalation and was taken to the hospital. The other person refused treatement. 

The buildings consist of a business on the ground floor, and apartments on the upper floors. About 13 of people were displaced, and the Red Cross was called in to provide assistance.

Since the fire started in the back of the building,  Nicholson said the fire was not visible at first from the street. But tenants and neighbors started calling 911 to report the fire.