A morning fire in San Francisco’s Tenderloin jolted dozens of residents out of bed today, tearing up the outside of a six-story apartment building on Turk Street and sending people scrambling into the street. Fire officials said the blaze began in a second-floor light well, then shot straight up to the roof, triggering an upgrade from a one-alarm to a two-alarm response. Roughly two dozen people were left displaced overnight, and while the damage was significant, firefighters reported no injuries. Crews stayed through the morning to knock down lingering hot spots and hunt for flames hidden inside the walls.
San Francisco Fire Department updates
The San Francisco Fire Department said the fire was reported at about 12:30 AM in the 200 block of Turk Street and confirmed that “All residents have been evacuated and firefighters are working hard to extinguish the fire within the walls,” according to NBC Bay Area. The agency said the initial one-alarm call was quickly elevated to two alarms after flames climbed vertically through the building’s light well from the second floor to the roof. Engines, ladder trucks and rescue units packed the block while crews chased hot spots and checked each level.
Evacuations and sheltering
Roughly 25 residents were displaced, and the American Red Cross arrived to help with emergency shelter and basic needs, according to CBS Bay Area. Fire officials shut down sections of Turk and Leavenworth streets as engines, hoses and aerial ladders filled the intersection. Neighbors described a chaotic yet orderly scene, with flashing lights strobing off nearby buildings while firefighters hauled hose lines toward the roof, smoke drifting over the block.
Damage and investigation
No injuries were reported at the scene, and investigators have not yet determined what sparked the blaze, according to SFGATE. Fire crews stayed into the morning to track down the fire inside the walls and clear the smoke from the upper floors. Officials asked people to stay away from the area while cleanup continued and investigators worked to piece together how the fire started and spread.
Neighbors and next steps
Residents of the building were temporarily moved to nearby locations while Fire Department units completed overhaul and safety checks. City inspectors and investigators are expected to evaluate the structure to decide which units, if any, can be reoccupied in the coming days. The Red Cross remained on hand to support households that will be off Turk Street for longer than a night.
