Fire spreads through Mission apartments

SAN FRANCISCO (Map, News) - As smoke from a four-alarm fire in the Mission district billowed into the air Monday, residents of two apartment buildings stood on the streets waiting to see if their homes would be saved.

The fire was first reported about 6 p.m. at 1476 Valencia St., according to San Franciso Fire Department Chief Joanne Hayes-White. The blaze near 26th and Valencia streets was upgraded to four alarms at about 6:30 p.m. and spread to a next-door apartment building, according to Hayes-White.

Stepanie Dukes, who lives in the second building, cried while standing outside.

“I am waiting to see what’s left of my apartment,” she said.

The wood-frame structure where the fire started made the blaze tough to battle, according to Hayes-White.

“Thank goodness it’s not that windy of a day,” she said.

More than 100 firefighters fought the fire. It was contained at 7:35 p.m.

“We have a lot of resources here, but we want to make sure the rest of The City is covered,” Hayes-White said. Two firefighters were treated for smoke inhalation, according to Hayes-White.

Three Muni routes were disrupted around the scene of the fire, according to a spokesman for the transit agency. Two stops were being skipped on the 26-Valencia and one stop was being skipped on both the 27-Bryant and the 67-Bernal Heights, according to Muni spokesman Judson True.

The fire department also had an arson unit on the scene to investigate the cause of the fire, according to Hayes-White. According to Hayes-White, 20 to 40 people were displaced.

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