San Francisco fire crews responded to a large fire in the South of Market area early Tuesday that spread through six buildings and across two city blocks, sending large plumes of smoke into the air that carried across the bay.
The fire was reported just before 7 a.m. at 13th Street and S. Van Ness Avenue, according to the San Francisco Fire Department Twitter account. The fire has reached five alarms, which means that every fire station in the city has crews on site. More than 160 firefighters were on site.
The large fire sent plumes of black smoke into the sky as it raged close to the highway. Travelers were advised to avoid entering the city via the Bay Bridge.
Six commercial buildings were impacted by the fire over two city blocks, including a roofing company according to Deputy Fire Chief Victor Wyrsch.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
A fire chief was taken to San Francisco General Hospital with moderate injuries after being hit on the head, Wyrsch said. He was subsequently released.
“He’s a tough guy but we’re going to go check on him anyways,” Wyrsch said at a morning press conference.
A commercial structure owned by the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department was also impacted by the fire. Wyrsch said the building had boxes of live ammunition in the basement and there was a deputy on duty inside the building as crews fought the fire.
“That was the first building I went inside to check to make sure everything was okay,” he said. “There was a sheriff deputy inside. I asked him to get his most important equipment out. They had a lot of ammo in the basement. So I said get all the ammo you can out — get everything out.”
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District also issued an air quality advisory in both the East Bay and San Francisco areas, encouraging residents to stay inside with their windows and doors closed if they smell smoke. Those who have respiratory illnesses or are vulnerable to high air pollution levels are advised to take precautions as well.
According to officials, surface winds were expected to remain onshore across the Bay Area throughout the day, although the impacts of the smoke were likely to improve as the day wore on.
Officials said smoke can irritate the eyes and airways, causing coughing, a dry scratchy throat and irritated sinuses. Smoke in the air can trigger wheezing in those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or COPD. The elderly and children are particularly susceptible, officials said.
According to fire officials, police evacuated nearby homes on 14th Street as three buildings caught fire.
San Francisco EMS set up a patient treatment area on S. Van Ness Avenue and Erie Street, according to fire officials.
In order to contain the fire, PG&E cut power to the area. Wyrsch said one of the major issues with the fire was that transformers were falling on the ground as crews battled the fire.
Those who have been displaced by the fire have been told to meet with police near Natoma Street and 14th Street.