Building ablaze on Mission Street in La Lengua

Reader Jesse C. shares this photo and writes:

Crazy fire happening now, Mission Street is closed!

UPDATE: Nick Fisher reports, “At least one heading to hospital.”

UPDATE: A video…

[via Miriam K.]

UPDATE: More photos…


[Photo by Faye Harris]


[Photo by Easton Grainer]

Under control???


[Photo by Lindsey Adler]

44 Responses to “Building ablaze on Mission Street in La Lengua”

  1. Jay says:

    Holy Shiznit!! I hope no one is hurt. And that Blue Plate is OK.

  2. dylan says:

    Yeah, pretty scarey. Was having dinner in Locovore. Took my little girl to the bathroom for 3 minutes and came out to the towering inferno. Luckily the SFFD are all over it. Shame about the strong breeze fanning the flames.

  3. Fair says:

    I don’t think anything on that block will survive.

  4. MrEricSir says:

    Wow. Well that certainly explains all those sirens.

  5. Tex says:

    Just walked back from there. Big flames are out but still a lot of smoke 9:03pm. Saw someone taken away on a stretcher about 15 minutes ago. Overheard two roommates that live in the building talking about how quickly it happened and they didn’t have any time to take anything from their apartment before they had to get out.

  6. Yao says:

    ABC 7 just reported that a firefighter was taken to SF General Hospital. No word on his/her condition.

  7. Mom says:

    Another reminder to get renter’s insurance. It’s tough to start over.

  8. Don’t click the “Nick Fisher reports” link, unless you want to spend the rest of your day clicking your “back” button, or closing your browser.

  9. Mei Ling says:

    We live around the corner from here. Our water is brown…

  10. e says:

    It’s actually 3208 mission, not 2308 like the video title says.

  11. DJ BEAR says:

    Jesus H! No wonder I heard so many sirens biking home. Here’s hoping everyone is alright.

    (It also brings me back to middle school fire safety videos. Guess who has two thumbs and is going to buy one of those chain ladders for emergency window escapes? [This guy.])

  12. james geppert says:

    horrible. i hope everyone ends up ok.

  13. Fiid says:

    Just got back. Looked like Blue Plate and Los Panchos survived without damage. The two buildings in between – not so much. Hope everyone is okay and thoughts go out to all those affected. Huge props to SFFD – which totally brought it. Including that seriously cool illuminated ladder (totally disco!).

  14. Bernalwood says:

    Thanks for the update Fiid!

  15. Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

    Oh no! I hope everyone is ok! And that Blue Plate burned down!

    • Hey Corpus Nerd, stop signing in as Herr Doktor.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      I am bummed about the damage to Lotus Garden. I hope it is speedily repairable. I (heart) that place.

      • Samantha says:

        My aunt owns Lotus Garden and I’m sure she will be very happy to read this comment. The place got torn down pretty bad inside. It will be months before it reopens. Thanks for your thoughts and support!

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      I withdraw my conflagrationary wishes.

      But I still think $16 for meatloaf and $21 for fried chicken is fucking bullshit.

  16. gibbsmo says:

    Stay classy Herr Dickwad.

    • Herr Doktor Professor Deth Vegetable says:

      Wow, really? I’m surprised that anyone would take issue with me hoping that everyone is ok. Why would you want random people to be hurt?! You seem to have some anger issues.

      Love and Cookies,

      – Veggie

  17. Erm says:

    Hoping for the best and that everyone is ok! Kind of eerie because I used to live over there and I remember a fire on that same part of the block in 1998 or 99. (It was an apartment building above a veggie market. Does anyone remember that?)

  18. Phoenixsf says:

    Wow! I remember another fire just a few years ago around there… that same building or the taller one next door.

  19. Fair says:

    We live a block away, our water is brown too. (still again this morning). I can only assume this is because of the fire. Anyone else with the same water issue?

  20. Disclaimer: I am an employee of the SFPUC. For those who are experiencing discolored water, try running your cold water from a faucet (preferably lowest point i.e. garage if you have one) for a minute or two and see if that clears it up. If not please call 311 to report your issue and they will have a water quality inspector contact you. When a fire of this size occurs hydrants need to be opened up, pressure increased etc and this can sometimes cause sediment to be stirred up and thus cause discoloration.

  21. Cat Perez says:

    EMERGENCY BENEFIT for those who lived in the house that took the brunt of the damage!!! These are actually a house full of amazing friends!!
    It looks as though the fire destroyed most or all of their possessions and made the house uninhabitable for the foreseeable future.

    Please check the below link on Facebook for details on the event:
    http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146406408757912

    Friday night-El Rio-Hard French DJ’s. Donate at the door!!!!

  22. Dorothy says:

    Hoping everyone is all right.

  23. Darrell says:

    Yeah, we will be at the El Rio 3158 Mission Street, Cross Precita, for the Benefit for the families that have lost everything, in this terrible fire, this Friday.
    Our hearts go out to Kathy at Lotus Garden, hope you are able to come back soon, we love you, and your wonderful cuisine.
    And best to the firefighter that was injured.
    Peace ;D

  24. Hoobyzhuna says:

    My little brother lived in that apartment. He bsicly had the clothes on his back and his cell phone on him when he got out of the apartment. His roomate only had a towel on. Im just so grateful that he is safe.

  25. Leticia says:

    My ex Husband live there in 1998, and the building burn down…thats the reason he moved with me and we get married!! creepy

  26. Mission Manatee says:

    I hope everything turns out okay for everyone, and will likely go to the El Rio benefit tonight, but Lotus Garden has possibly the most boring Vietnamese food I have ever eaten – and I’ve lived all over the East Coast, spent time in Texas, and lived in Saigon/HCMC. When you have to ask for nuoc mam and chili sauce, that’s a bad sign.

    So so sorry about everyone who got burned out of their places, Lotus Garden folks included. And yeah, Blue Plate is pricey, but it’s awesome to walk past on a Friday or Saturday evening and see yuppies/Marina types waiting outside for their match.com dates, looking around nervously because they’re in the oh-so-scary “Mish.”

    p.s. Dylan, I think your misspelling of Locavore as Locovore is brilliant and they should change their name. Great pun.

    p.p.s. Fiid, I can’t believe you said “disco”! Not very Melee/Rally vocab – disco was mostly post-1975, yeah? ;~)

  27. Glenn B says:

    The injured firefighter’s name is Stanley Lee and he got hurt when his firehose pushed out too much water and the force of the water pushed him into a wall and knocked him out. He was on a ladder when this happened and fell about 8 feet. He quickly regained consciousness and wanted to keep fighting the fire. His coworkers had to restrain him to get him proper medical attention. Way to bring it SFFD! You guys and gals are HEROS!

  28. Maria says:

    God Bless the SFFD. They rock!!!