Monday’s fire on Valencia street damaged five buildings and displaced 21 residents, including 19 adults and two children. San Francisco fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge further confirmed that the buildings have been red-taped—meaning, the building is unsafe to enter—until further notice. Buildings that sustained damage include 1448/1450 Valencia, 1452 Valencia, 1442-1446 Valencia, 1436-1440 Valencia and 345-351 San Jose Avenue. It’s unclear which of the five buildings displaced residents had lived. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
Between structural damage and contents among the five building, estimates in fire costs have reached more than $1.5 million, according to KTVU, which reported costs for each building.
Was the fire caused by an old, outdated heating system or something more sinister?