Early this morning around 4:30 a.m., a fire was reported off the 456 block of Castro Street, displacing some thirteen people and injuring two others.
The San Francisco Fire Department reported that the blaze began shortly after 4:30 a.m. Saturday morning — which started burning in one three-story residential-over-commercial building, before jumping to a second — above Q Bar and Osaka Sushi, according to KTVU. Firefighters, thankfully, gained control of the fire around 6 a.m. Because of the thick fog and the blaze’s initial slow-burn, the fire was reported somewhat late, thus leaving first responders little time to properly contain the urban burn.
Of the two people described as injured, NBC Bay Area stated that one was transported to a nearby hospital for "smoke inhalation" treatment. KRON 4 went on record to say that the other victim suffered "non-life threatening injuries" and refused treatment.
The extent of the damage to the Castro businesses is not yet known. Writing on Facebook, Q Bar owner Cip Cipriano says that the bar "seems to have suffered damage mainly from the water caused by the brave firefighters who put out the fire on the roofs of the 2 buildings." He also says that he's thankful the staff of Q Bar had all gone home for the night when the fire broke out. "We can rebuild and fix whatever we need to but I could never replace them," he says.
The SF Examiner has reported that since the fire's containment, some residents have been allowed back into their homes, leaving the current displacement count around eight or so people; the media outlet also said the Red Cross is on-scene, giving out blankets and supplies to those affected by the early-morning inferno.
The San Francisco Emergency Management is recommending that people avoid the areas around Castro and 18th Street until fire officials have left the scene.
The story is still developing, and we'll keep you posted as more details come to light.