News

Five-alarm fire in SOMA-Mission District Impacts Businesses, Artists and Residents

Published

4 years ago

July 29, 2020

By Kiki

Master stream set up. #5thalarm this morning. Original dispatch came in as a “small outside fire” with 1 engine, 1 truck and a Chief. As crews got on scene they quickly realized they were dealing with a large #fire with access issues and a heavy fire load. pic.twitter.com/A8Gtbu1ATL
— San Francisco Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) July 28, 2020

A five-alarm fire broke out Tuesday, July 27 at 6:30 a.m. at Folsom Street, impacting six commercial buildings and displacing 100 workers.

Lt. Jonathan Baxter, Media Affairs for San Francisco Fire Department (SFFD) said the area bordered the SOMA and Mission districts. SFFD remained on fire watch placing water on “hot spots” so there would be no flare ups. One firefighter was injured, taken to SF General and released.

The Red Cross and City of San Francisco are providing assistance to three displaced residents for housing and more.

Additionally, there was a mattress fire at 140 14^th Street Monday, July 26, within a homeless encampment at approximately 11:30 p.m. Fire investigation task force is conducting investigations of both fires.

SFFD will be on the scene for two to three more days. The 100^th block of 14^th street remains closed to pedestrian and vehicle traffic throughout the week.

SFFD is working with GlassAll, a glass company, in another location to rearrange for their deliveries.

Six buildings were involved, two completely destroyed including artists and coalition housing. Four buildings were severely damaged and one-to-two of those might have to be demolished.

A pet cat is also missing and no remains have been located.

The cause and origin of the fires are unknown.

We work closely with @SFPD @sfdbi @PGE4Me @SFWater @SF_emergency @SheriffSF @CHPSanFrancisco @RedCrossNorCal and @sfmta_muni in large incidents like this. Coordinating efforts to keep hazards to a minimum. #investinyoursafetynow #yoursffd pic.twitter.com/cr3p8zmHKg
— San Francisco Firefighters 798 (@SFFFLocal798) July 28, 2020

By Kiki

Posts by By Kiki | Website

Up Next

John Lewis Laid to Rest After Presidential Send-Off

Don't Miss

Oakland City Council Brings Resolutions for Muslim Awareness Month, Reparations Studies and Protection from Federal Occupation

By Kiki

Click to comment

Activism

S.F. Black Leaders Rally to Protest, Discuss ‘Epidemic’ of Racial Slurs Against Black Students in SF Public School System

Parents at the meeting spoke of their children as no longer feeling safe in school because of bullying and discrimination. Parents also said that reported incidents such as racial slurs and intimidation are not dealt with to their satisfaction and feel ignored.

Published

2 days ago

May 4, 2024

Oakland Post

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church. Photo courtesy Third Baptist Church.

By Carla Thomas

San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church hosted a rally and meeting Sunday to discuss hatred toward African American students of the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD).

Rev. Amos C. Brown, president of the San Francisco NAACP and pastor of Third Baptist Church, along with leadership from local civil rights groups, the city’s faith-based community and Black community leadership convened at the church.

“There has been an epidemic of racial slurs and mistreatment of Black children in our public schools in the city,” said Brown. “This will not be tolerated.”

According to civil rights advocate Mattie Scott, students from elementary to high school have reported an extraordinary amount of racial slurs directed at them.

“There is a surge of overt racism in the schools, and our children should not be subjected to this,” said Scott. “Students are in school to learn, develop, and grow, not be hated on,” said Scott. “The parents of the children feel they have not received the support necessary to protect their children.”

Attendees were briefed last Friday in a meeting with SFUSD Superintendent Dr. Matt Wayne.

SFUSD states that their policies protect children and they are not at liberty to publicly discuss the issues to protect the children’s privacy.

Some parents said they have removed their students from school while other parents and community leaders called on the removal of the SFUSD superintendent, the firing of certain school principals and the need for more supportive school board members.

Community advocates discussed boycotting the schools and creating Freedom Schools led by Black leaders and educators, reassuring parents that their child’s wellbeing and education are the highest priority and youth are not to be disrupted by racism or policies that don’t support them.

Virginia Marshall, chair of the San Francisco NAACP’s education committee, offered encouragement to the parents and students in attendance while also announcing an upcoming May 14 school board meeting to demand accountability over their mistreatment.

“I’m urging anyone that cares about our students to pack the May 14 school board meeting,” said Marshall.

This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate Program. The program is supported by partnership with California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.