3-Alarm Fire At San Francisco Taxi Repair Shop Sends Smoke Over Large Part Of City
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - San Francisco firefighters battled a three-alarm fire at a service garage for a cab company in the Bayview-Hunters Point area Monday, which sent a huge plume of black smoke over a large part of the city.
The fire broke out at a maintenance shop for Luxor Cab Com at 2177 Jerrold St. near Upton shortly before noon.
Firefighters were using breathing apparatuses as they fought the fire because of the paint, acrylic and other hazardous materials burning.
The blaze caused the roof to collapse at the building, which was still smoldering this afternoon, fire department spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.
Charles Rathbone, assistant manager with Luxor Cab, said the service garage was a total loss.
At least six people were inside the building at the time the fire broke out but all escaped without injury.
However, he said, "We lost a bunch of cars in there, including a beautiful 1938 Plymouth we had hoped to showcase as part of our history."
Luxor was one of the city's first cab companies, operating since 1928.
"It's nothing that money can't fix," Rathbone said of the fire. "Nobody was hurt so we're fortunate in that event."
Employees at other neighboring businesses were also evacuated because of the fire, which prompted the closure of several nearby streets.
The huge plume of smoke could be seen as far away as the East Bay.
