Jan. 29--San Francisco firefighters were battling a four-alarm blaze Wednesday night in the Mission District that left one person dead and at least six people injured, authorities said.
A mixed-use building at 22nd and Mission streets ignited about 6:45 p.m. As of 10:45 p.m., hundreds of firefighters were still battling the blaze, which had not been contained. The roof of the building had suffered a partial collapse.
Local news website Mission Local reported that crews worked past midnight after the flames had been contained, but not extinguished.
One man was pronounced dead at the scene, and six people were taken to a hospital with smoke inhalation injuries, said Officer Grace Gatpandan, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco Police Department. The man who died was evacuated from the building and treated on scene, Gatpandan said, but "could not overcome his injuries."
An official at St. Francis Memorial Hospital confirmed that two men and one woman were being treated there for fire-related issues.
The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter at City College of San Francisco, said Department of Emergency Management spokesman Francis Zamora.
Zamora said about 40 people have been displaced, and at least 25 of them were taken to the shelter.
Lydia Chavez, editor of Mission Local whose offices are on the second floor of the building, said one of her staff members had locked up the office just 10 minutes before the fire broke out.
After seeing photos of flames engulfing the building, she fears the nonprofit's office and equipment could be a "total loss."
"I doubt anything is salvageable," Chavez said Wednesday night. "We may have lost an office and our equipment, but some people lost their homes."
Gatpandan said officials don't suspect foul play or arson at this time.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
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