Cat dies, residents displaced as massive fire destroys multi-unit buildings in SF's Inner Richmond

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Dozens are looking for a place to live and a cat is dead after a large fire ripped through several buildings in San Francisco's Inner Richmond District early Friday morning.

The 4-alarm fire broke out on 5th Avenue between Balboa and Anza Streets around 2:30 a.m. Firefighters were able to get it under control around 4:30 a.m., but not before it did significant damage.

Video posted by SFFD shows large flames shooting from one of the buildings during the height of the fire.

The fire gutted three multi-unit buildings and caused damage to at least one other.

Officials say there were no human injuries aside from a firefighter twisting an ankle, but a cat was killed and 35 people were evacuated.

Other homes nearby were evacuated because of the proximity to the burning buildings.

"In the first few minutes of the fire, I heard so much screaming that we thought surely someone was trapped," said Madeleine Buzbee who was evacuated.

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There were 144 firefighters who responded to the scene. SFFD Chief Dean Crispen said those firefighters faced multiple challenges fighting the massive fire.

"There's a lot of overhead wires," he said. "These buildings are right up against each other, siding on siding, wood siding. So we were really concerned that it would extend to additional structures."

Fire crews stayed on the scene, blocking 5th Avenue between Balboa and Anza for hours.

Though some evacuees would eventually return to their homes, their hearts are with their neighbors who lost nearly everything.

"My brain can't comprehend it," Buzbee said. "Those houses are filled with people, families and elders and young people and couples and renters, and I'm worried about what's gonna happen to them."

Officials are still working to determine the cause of the fire.