Fire broke out toward the rear of a building on Guerrero street near 18th around 11:30 a.m. today, displacing six tenants from one unit, but causing no injuries. Tenants from the other three units will be able to return today.
The fire began in the back of 559 Guerrero, near the kitchen and laundry area of an upstairs unit. Public records indicate the building affected is a three-story, four-unit residential building constructed in 1908. According to SFFD Assistant Chief Siragusa, the damage to that area of the unit was significant. While the fire was contained quickly, firefighters did cut a hole in the wall in their attempts to put the fire out. That unit is uninhabitable, and its tenants will not be able to return. The Red Cross is expected to arrive and assist the five adults and one school-aged child find housing.
Downstairs neighbor Patricia Langley said she was on the phone in the back of her unit, when she heard her neighbor knocking on the door. Her neighbor told her there was a fire in the building and to get out and call 911.
Langley took her dog Chester and bird Petunia, and from the safety of the street called 911 to report the fire. Langley said it was a matter of minutes before the fire department arrived on scene.
The landlord did arrive at the building around 12:30, but declined to comment.
Fire in the mission bt 17th and 18th @missionmission pic.twitter.com/fSaOcgK6Sk
— tamthaopham (@tamthaopham) April 29, 2015
SFFD on scene working fire at 559 Guerrero. Fire knocked down & contained to the top floor.
— Scanner Says… (@ScannerSays) April 29, 2015
@MLNow photos of the fire from behind my apartment pic.twitter.com/e7pNWu5fEH
— Jessica Kennedy (@artjcake) April 29, 2015
Firefighters on scene appear to have contained #fire on Guerrero near 18th pic.twitter.com/VbjfVdFUd0
— Mission Local (@MLNow) April 29, 2015