Thanks to Wolfgang, a reader who captured the shots below on the scene. Fire crews had to cut through the roof to get to the 3-alarm fire. See video from the fire
More from the Chronicle: The building was a vacant duplex under renovation at 607-609 2nd Ave. 15 residents from the neighboring buildings were temporarily displaced by damage caused by the fire.
Sarah B.
Saw it from my roof when I heard all the sirens. Hope everyone is alright.
The fire has been controlled after going to 3 alarms. This brings about 110 dedicated firefighters to the neighborhood. Thank goodness for them. The next time you see a truck or engine in the ‘hood give em a wave, we’d be out of luck without their efforts!
Heard the sirens but the news wasn’t on yet. Been checking google off and on and stumbled across your blog and reader photo – thanks!
That’s good news, David. Thanks for the update.
Welcome to the blog, George! 😉
Sarah B.
I hope the damage to the surrounding buildings wasn’t serious. Thank goodness for SFFD and that the building itself was vacant!
Coop, another reader, sent in some additional pictures of the fire right after it started. He and the owner at Drink Liquor were calling 911.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs095.snc3/16248_193333794816_501809816_2635137_7804954_n.jpg
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs115.snc3/16248_193327674816_501809816_2635126_3395111_n.jpg
Sarah B.
Thanks Sarah and RichmondSF blog for reporting on the 2nd Avenue fire.
Our office has been working with Fire Dept, Human Services Agency and the Red Cross to ensure that the residents, families and small business people from 101-107 Balboa, 607-9 2nd, and 611 2nd Ave displaced and impacted by this tragedy are supported.
Thank you also to 2nd Ave neighbor Michael Bornstein for housing one of the families.
Early this morning I talked with the owner of 611 2nd and 2 renters from 101-107 Balboa who’s families were displaced by the fire. I was also able to meet the owner of 607-9 2nd as well.
I am grateful for the work of the Lt. Ken Smith and the firefighters, Woody Baker-Cohn and staff of the Red Cross Disaster Operations, and Ben Aymes, emergency response coordinator, for the City’s Human Service Agency for their responsiveness.
We are working with HSA and David Chiu’s office to educate the full board on our City emergency response systems in the aftermath of this terrible fire and the Chinatown fire several weeks ago.
I grew up in that house and have over 40 years of really great memories — sadly, my mom sold the house just a few years ago. This was the home in the neighborhood for many years for many friends and extended family. Christmas was an especially great time because the house was filled with people every year (loads of local friends and family all stopped by). My grandparents lived in the upper flat at 607 and we lived in the lower flat at 609. My grandfather owned the building since the 60’s and worked for the city for many years as a street sweeper. He was also featured in a special segment (60 minutes or something like that) for his career as one of the last American street sweepers. My father and most of his friends worked for the local Richmond district french bread bakeries. The top of the building was already flat (missing an attic) because of a previous fire that occurred many years before we lived there. I believe the building itself is one of the original flats of the neighborhood. (mike.warren @.me.com)
Hi Mike – Wow, that must be so sad for you to see what happened to the building. Thanks for leaving your comment, I appreciate it. Are you still living in the neighborhood?
Sarah B.
Hi Sarah,
Live with my family in a great little victorian built in 1860 in an old gold rush town (Sutter Creek in the Sierra foothills) — just was hired at a company in San Francisco so in the process of moving back. Would love to find a nice place in the inner Richmond. -Mike W.