A housing complex and historic Victorian house caught ablaze next to a Buddhist temple in San Francisco's Mission District yesterday. This fire halted traffic and left several residents, including monks, without a home. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, firefighters were summoned to the 3100 block of 22nd Street at 5:27 p.m. Upon arrival, they encountered a three-story wooden structure with flames rapidly climbing the walls towards the attic.
While the San Francisco Fire Department managed to rescue three cats and one dog amidst their efforts, caught between the ablaze buildings, the fire left 15 people displaced, with the American Red Cross stepping in to assist at least four individuals. A firefighter reportedly suffered a minor injury during the incident. The streets, previously swelling with emergency vehicles and cordoned off for safety, have since been reopened, as reported by the San Francisco Fire Department Media.
The 2nd alarm fire on the 3100 block of 22nd St. has been extinguished and turned over to the responsible party. This was the residence of the Buddhist temple next door. 3 cats and 1 dog were rescued between 2 buildings. 15 are displaced with 4 needing the American Red Cross. 1… pic.twitter.com/YPzY9BgfOL
— SAN FRANCISCO FIRE DEPARTMENT MEDIA (@SFFDPIO) October 23, 2024
Evidencing the severity of the situation, some 50 firefighters were dispatched to the scene and continued their exhaustive work until the fire was expectedly extinguished around 7:30 p.m. Mariano Elias, a spokesperson for the department, assured that although the fire seriously damaged the building, all monks were able to exit safely without any reported injuries.
The cause of the fire remains unknown and is under investigation. According to Elias, the affected structure is noted for its red paint and origins dating back to the early 1900s, and now stands with heavy damage and shattered windows.
