2-Alarm Fire Damages Century-Old Building At 5th & Minna

2-Alarm Fire Damages Century-Old Building At 5th & MinnaPhoto: SFFD/Twitter
Allie Pape
Published on August 29, 2016

A two-alarm fire broke out this morning at 447 Minna St. (between Fifth and Sixth streets) in SoMa, causing damage but no injuries or displacement. 

The fire broke out in the top of the 12,000-square-foot brick building around 4:45am, and quickly spread throughout the structure; firefighters were able to bring it under control by 6:30am. No one was inside, and an SFFD spokesman told the Chronicle that it's unclear how the fire started. 

The former Dempster Brothers Printing building, constructed in 1907, is currently vacant, and is set to become part of the upcoming 5M Project, a four-acre mixed-use office, residential, retail, and park project that will transform the areas of Fifth, Mission, and Howard streets.

The Dempster Building would be an "arts and culture space" under the 5M Project. | Rendering: Forest City

A rendering of the project shows the building being used as an "arts and culture" space; it's unclear how the fire will impact those plans, which remain mired in controversy