A two-alarm fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. this morning near Bartlett and 24th Street in the Mission, leaving two victims in critical condition. SFFD has yet to determine the cause of the fire, but the recent high winds made things more complicated for fire crews this morning, causing the top-floor blaze to spread to an adjacent building. Despite the heavy winds, the Fire Department managed to douse the flames within an hour.
Fire Chief JoAnna Hayes-White explained the fire "started at the rear of the top floor. There were pretty heavy fire and smoke conditions. You add the windy conditions to this and it made it a really challenging fire to fight." All told, four victims ended up in local hospitals this morning. Two remain in critical condition, and one Fire Lieutenant suffered mild smoke inhalation after taking off his mask to help one of the victims. Thirty-five total live in the two apartment buildings. ABC7 has the video report this morning:
