Man Dies in North Beach Apartment Fire

An elderly man died in an apartment fire in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood Thursday night, according to the San Francisco Fire Department.

Firefighters responded at 10:01 p.m. to 1050 Columbus Ave. in response to a fire in a unit of a 12-unit apartment building, a fire department spokeswoman said.

Fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said firefighters found smoke coming from third floor windows when they arrived and they were able to help two elderly men out of the building.

Medics pronounced one of the men dead after they were unsuccessful at resuscitating him outside the building. The San Francisco Medical Examiner has not released the name of the man.

Medics treated the other man, 88, for smoke inhalation and released him.

The one-alarm fire was under control by 10:29 p.m. and crews contained the fire to the unit where the fire started, Talmadge said.

Talmadge said some residents were not allowed back into the building, but they did not need American Red Cross help finding a temporary place to live.

Investigators are still working to determine the cause of the fire. Arson investigators were called to the scene to determine the cause and they have not found anything suspicious so far, Talmadge said.

Man Robs Bank In Financial District

A man fled with money from two bank tellers in a bank robbery in San Francisco’s Financial District Thursday, police said.

Police said a 20- to 30-year-old man robbed a bank in the 200 block of California Street at about 1:30 p.m.

The man approached a teller, demanded money and stated he had a gun, according to police. The teller did not see a gun, police said.

Police said the man demanded money from a second teller before leaving the area on foot.

No Victims Found After Reports of Shots Fired Near Church and Market

Police are investigating reports of gunshots near San Francisco’s Castro District this evening, police said.

Police responded to reports of shots fired in the area of Church and Market streets at 5 p.m., Officer Carlos Manfredi said.

Witnesses described seeing a silver sedan fleeing the scene but no victims were located, according to police.

The police response temporarily disrupted San Francisco Municipal Railway service during this evening’s commute.

2-Alarm Residential Fire Extinguished in Bayview

Firefighters extinguished a two-alarm residential fire that spread to a second building in San Francisco’s Bayview District this afternoon, a fire spokeswoman said.

The fire at 1447 Van Dyke Ave. was reported at 1:01 p.m., fire spokeswoman Mindy Talmadge said.

Firefighters arrived and found smoke billowing from the roof of the two-story residential building with flames spreading to a second building.

A second-alarm response was called. Firefighters got the fire under control at 1:24 p.m., Talmadge said.

The burning building was occupied when the fire broke out and at least one resident escaped uninjured. Although Talmadge did not immediately know the extent of the damage, she said residents of the home would likely be displaced.

No one was injured by the fire, Talmadge said. The cause is under investigation.

(News Roundup Via Bay City News)