3 SFFD firefighters injured, 2 who fell through floor, while battling Marina District fire

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Two firefighters were hurt when they fell through the floor while battling the flames at a San Francisco house under construction Wednesday morning. A third firefighter also got medical care after the fast-moving fire ripped through multiple stories.

Four neighbors were displaced because of the fire that started around 4 a.m. in the 2500 block pf Chestnut Street in the Marina District. It's not far from the Presidio and 145 firefighters responded to the three-alarm fire.

The four residents displaced are all going to be fine thanks to a soon-to-be-dad who woke up at just the right time.

The house that was under construction was vacant, but on either side, families like Brian Stelmar's were fast asleep.

"I had fallen asleep on the couch in the front room last night, whereas my wife is in the back room along with our neighbors downstairs," Stelmar said.

He said the smell of smoke woke him up. He searched their home, but initially didn't see anything until he went outside and looked at the house next door.

"You could physically see what looked like a bonfire in the middle of a window on the second floor," he said. "So at that point, ran back inside, got my wife out. We was rushed out, banged on the neighbor's door, got Ben up and out of the building as well."

Stelmar's wife, who is pregnant, immediately called 911.

The San Francisco Fire Department said it was able to contain the fire within the hour, but three figherfighters were injured. Two of them fell through a floor of the home. SFFD says they are alert and talking.

SFFD Chief Dean Crispen says crews had to open the ceiling and cut a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape.

He said that the home being under construction made their job especially difficult.

"Very aggressive firefighting building under construction can provide many challenges with uncovered walls and plumbing, active plumbing and electrical work being done to propose a lot of danger to our firefighters," Chief Crispen said.

Stelmar said if he didn't happen to fall asleep on the couch, he might not have smelled the smoke. Though the fire displaced him and his wife, he said there's a lot to be grateful for.

"Everybody's safe, thank you to the fire department for being so on top of it," he said.

Mayor Daniel Lurie posted on X saying that his thoughts are with the injured firefighters.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.