Tent hearth in San Francisco’s Mission District spreads to industrial constructing

Bay Area // san francisco

May 23, 2022Updated: May 23, 2022 5:25 pm

Blurred view of fire truck driving in city. A tent fire spread to a nearby commercial building Sunday night in San Francisco’s Mission District, fire officials said.

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A tent fire spread to a nearby commercial building Sunday night in San Francisco’s Mission District, fire officials said.

The fire was reported on the 1400 block of 15th Street at about 10:32 pm and spread to a nearby building, causing moderate structure damage, said Fire Department Lt. Jonathan Baxter.

A homeless encampment suffered major damage, said Baxter.

Fire crews extinguished the blaze in about 45 minutes.

No injuries nor displacements were reported, officials said. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Baxter said the number of individuals who were living at the encampment was unknown as people typically disperse before firefighters arrive on scene during fire incidents.

A series of encampment fires spreading to nearby buildings and other street conditions in the Mission District prompted Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who represents the neighborhood, to craft a plan that addresses a myriad of issues.

Concerned residents have also hosted trash cleanups in their neighborhoods in an effort to revitalize the mission and provide resources to vendors and unhoused people.

Jessica Flores (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores

Jessica Flores is a reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. Before joining The Chronicle in 2021, she worked for USA Today, NPR affiliate KPCC and Curbed LA. Originally from LA, she received her master’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and a bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s University in Los Angeles.