Castro blaze racks up $1.4 million tab

A three-alarm fire in San Francisco’s Castro District that burned two buildings on Saturday displaced a dozen people and resulted in an estimated combined total of $1.4 million in damage, a fire lieutenant said today.

Firefighters responded to a report of a working fire at 15th and Church streets around 4:10 p.m. Saturday, San Francisco fire Lt. Robert Lopez said.

The incident was quickly upgraded to a second alarm after crews found the fire burning between two buildings, Lopez said.

About 10 minutes later a third alarm was called and the blaze was under control at 5:23 p.m., he said.

The fire damaged an estimated $1 million to property and $250,000 to contents at a three-story building on Church Street, Lopez said.

A two-unit apartment building involved in the fire caused an estimated $100,000 in property damage and $50,000 in damage to contents, according to Lopez.

A third building to the rear of the three-story building sustained water damage stemming from the fire, he said.

The American Red Cross was called to assist 12 adults displaced by the fire, the lieutenant said.

The San Francisco Department of Animal Care and Control was called to care for a cat that suffered smoke inhalation, Lopez said.

No other injuries were reported.

A total of 104 firefighters responded to the blaze, according to Lopez. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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