(Reader photo)
6:03 AM: SFD has just arrived at an apartment building in the 3100 block of SW Avalon Way [map] on a “full response” dispatch.
6:06 AM: The fire is on the building’s first floor. So far they’re saying it does not appear to have spread. The big response, however, is further complicating Avalon/Genesee traffic, so you’ll want to entirely avoid the area.
6:13 AM: The fire is reported to be under control. No report of any injuries.
6:17 AM: The fire has just been declared “tapped,” which means (mostly) out. But SFD’s likely to have crews on scene quite a while, so expect bus/traffic impacts TFN.
(Reader photo)
6:22 AM: Metro has messaged, ” Routes 21, 50, 55, DART 773 & the RapidRide C Line are currently rerouted … Use stops on 35th Av SW south of SW Avalon Way.” Meantime, per radio communication, SFD is evaluating one person for a “possible respiratory” problem.
(Photo tweeted by Regan)
6:35 AM: The Red Cross is being summoned to help two people.
6:58 AM: Per scanner, police are reopening Avalon/Genesee traffic “all ways.”
7:07 AM: Bus riders are reporting that bus service has resumed too. The incident log shows the response is down to three units including a supervisor.
7:13 AM: Firsthand report by nearby resident Tomasz Biernacki, with his video, starting even before firefighters arrived, as someone shouted FIRE! FIRE! to wake people up:
I got up to make coffee and saw white smoke across the street from our condo. 30 seconds later the fire alarm goes off and people are running out of their apartments. A woman was carried because of disabilities. One gentleman was heroically trying to use a fire extinguisher but it was too late for that. Everyone worked together to get folks out. For sure there are some folks homeless today because of this. Last I looked they were letting people back into their apartments as they clean up.
We’ll be following up with SFD regarding how it started.
ADDED TUESDAY: The fire was ruled accidental, sparked by a cigarette.
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