Two San Francisco firefighters were injured early Wednesday morning when they fell through a floor while battling a massive blaze at a house under construction in the Marina District. A third firefighter also received medical care at the scene.
The fire broke out around 4 a.m. on the 2500 block of Chestnut Street, not far from the Presidio. Fueled by the open structure of the under-construction building, the flames quickly spread through multiple levels, prompting a three-alarm response from 145 firefighters.
Four neighbors were displaced by the fire, but thanks to one man’s quick actions, everyone made it out safely.
“I had fallen asleep on the couch in the front room last night, whereas my wife is in the back room along with our neighbors downstairs,” said Brian Stelmar, who lives next door. He said the smell of smoke woke him up.
When he stepped outside, he saw flames flickering through a second-floor window. “It looked like a bonfire,” he said. “So at that point, ran back inside, got my wife out. We rushed out, banged on the neighbor’s door, got Ben up and out of the building as well.”
His wife, who is pregnant, called 911 as they evacuated.
Fire crews worked quickly to contain the fire within an hour, but the situation was dangerous. Two firefighters fell through a floor while inside the structure, though both were alert and talking afterward.
SFFD Chief Dean Crispen said the unfinished home made the fire especially challenging. “A building under construction can provide many hazards with exposed walls, plumbing, and electrical work. That creates a lot of danger for our firefighters,” he explained. Crews cut through the ceiling and roof to ventilate the building and prevent further spread.
Stelmar said he’s thankful for the timing that likely saved lives. “If I hadn’t fallen asleep on the couch, I might not have smelled the smoke. Everybody’s safe. Thank you to the fire department for being so on top of it,” he said.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie posted on X that his thoughts are with the injured firefighters, praising their quick and courageous response.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
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