SAN FRANCISCO—San Francisco firefighters fought a three-alarm fire in the Mission District on Sunday, November 8. According to San Francisco firefighter officials, the fire broke out at the Rolling Stock Tire Shop at 2869 16th Street, on the corner of 16th and Shotwell Street.
According to Assistant Fire Chief Dave Franklin, the fire was reported at approximately 7:45 a.m. By 8:00 a.m., the fire had grown to be a three-alarm fire.
The fire department issued a warning that advised all residents of neighboring residencies to stay inside to avoid the fire’s toxic fumes.
Franklin reported that heavy flames and thick black smoke were coming from the roof of the building due to the burning tires. As a result, firefighters battled the flames from the building’s exterior.
As of 10:55 a.m., firefighters were still battling the fire, though most of it had been extinguished.
According to Franklin, the shop’s building was unsalvageable due to a portion of the roof collapsing and pieces of burnt tire remains fused to the building. Reports of a neighboring business behind the tire shop also sustained smoke damage.
The tire shop’s flames spread to an apartment building beside it, causing 21 people in local residencies within an eight-block radius to be displaced. The Red Cross arrived to assist the 17 adults and four children who were displaced as a result of the fire, and announced that an evacuation center was open for residents on 520 S. VanNess.
According to Red Cross representatives, no injuries were reported.
Reports of the fire’s black smoke were reported to be visible from across the city, even including in Marin County.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation and has not yet been determined.
