UPDATE: #FIRE ON HATTIE JUST WENT TO 4TH ALARM. #SFFD @Scott_Wiener pic.twitter.com/cOr7t9NdtY
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) October 20, 2016
A four-alarm fire in the Castro District left seven residents homeless and injured three firefighters this morning, leaving damage significant enough to close an area street all Thursday morning.
The fire was reported at 12:17 a.m. at 27 Hattie Street, a small street between Market and 17th Streets, KRON 4 reports. By 1 a.m., the blaze had been upgraded to four-alarms, according to the San Francsico Fire Department.
BREAKING: WORKING FIRE, 1ST ALARM, 27 HATTIE ST #SFFD ON SCENE. pic.twitter.com/KEvmYPrB1D
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) October 20, 2016
By 2:05, the blaze was "under control," according to the SFFD.
#1020WF1 UPDATE THIS FIRE IS UNDER CONTROL 7 displaced 3 FF injured fire under investigation 0205 Hrs pic.twitter.com/05HnTVtwXs
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
According to ABC 7, officials believe that the blaze began "the garage of one home and spread to the homes next to it." In addition, they report, a ruptured gas line at the front door of the structure fed the flames.
Firefighters say a ruptured gas line at the front door of a home in the Castro made the firefight very tough. 3 homes damaged. pic.twitter.com/pCIsbA1ryX
— Amy Hollyfield (@amyhollyfield) October 20, 2016
Looked like a gas explosion from Twin Peaks. The flames got very high very quick
— David Lombardi (@LombardiESPN) October 20, 2016
Another factor in the swift spread of the fire: Balloon construction, which "means there's no fire stops between the floors so there's a way that the fire could travel from the first floor straight up to the roof," SFFD Battalion Chief Paul Crawford told ABC 7.
Breaking. Victorian homes didn't have built in fire walls bc of age so fire raced through easier. SF. @kron4news pic.twitter.com/2nPX3skzJY
— Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) October 20, 2016
"There's no fire stops, wood blocking that would stop the fire from spreading fast," Crawford said.
While current day buildings are designed in a way to prevent this issue, older buildings are not. And the building that burned is clearly an older one, as KRON 4 reporter Will Tran tweets that it was bought in 1887 "for 10 gold coins."
Patricia says Victorian home bought by grandfather 1887. Paid 10 gold coins. had 100 yr party for it @kron4news pic.twitter.com/lqn1lAPweB
— Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) October 20, 2016
According to the SFFD, three firefighters were injured as they fought the fire. Two were treated at the scene, and the third was transported to the hospital with an injured wrist.
All 3 of our injured firefighters are okay. 1 was taken to a hospital for a possible fracture wrist. The others were treated @ scene. https://t.co/ELtcKh6lS9
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
All seven residents — five adults and two children — escaped safely.
San Francisco couple says they heard crackling, explosion. Ran out. Family owned since 1887. @kron4news pic.twitter.com/5THgUTdsvU
— Will Tran (@KRON4WTran) October 20, 2016
A female tabby cat, who was spotted running out the front door as the melee began, is still missing, and area residents are asked to me on the lookout for any stray cats.
As of publication time, Hattie Street remains closed as firefighters clean up the scene.
The 100 block of HATTIE will remain closed through the morning. This is not a major street and should have little impact on traffic https://t.co/L96ifsNlWl
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
According to the SFFD, the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Third alarm on Hattie and Market. @Scott_Wiener pic.twitter.com/9NF8C3G2W8
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) October 20, 2016
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) October 20, 2016
3rd alarm at Hattie and Market st. #sffd units on scene pic.twitter.com/qwNXa5hdPe
— SF Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) October 20, 2016
#1020WF1 UPDATE 1 FF INJURED TAKEN TO HOSPITAL NON LIFE THREATENING UNK DISPLACED 4th ALARM pic.twitter.com/Q6gbmb6EtK
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
#1020WF1 UPDATE 7 displaced 2 FF injured Active 4th Alarm fire AVOID AREA 27 HATTIE pic.twitter.com/f9rDsv2tbG
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
THANK YOU @SFPD @RedCross @PGE4Me @SFWater FOR HELPING #yoursffd and #ourcommunity during this 4th ALARM fire pic.twitter.com/XvapO8vGic
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
***MEDIA YOU CAN USE THIS*** @sffdpio pic.twitter.com/PB1re4gtMO
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
THANK YOU SF FIRE RESERVES FOR YOUR HELP TONIGHT AT HE 4th ALARM fire pic.twitter.com/VvYGhU1mUi
— San Francisco Fire (@sffdpio) October 20, 2016
More from the SF fire in the Castro. Those are SFFD chainsaws working pic.twitter.com/81BL6xeTHI
— David Lombardi (@LombardiESPN) October 20, 2016
More SFFD chainsaws for fire in an old wooden Victorian, to make sure it doesn't spread. Such an eerie sound pic.twitter.com/guKi7eJrtW
— David Lombardi (@LombardiESPN) October 20, 2016