One person was rushed to the hospital when a fire broke out Tuesday on the rooftop of a building along the Mission Beach boardwalk.
The fire produced a large column of thick, black smoke into the air that was visible for miles.
San Diego Fire-Rescue crews responded just before 7 a.m. to the two-alarm fire at 716 Ventura Place between Hamel's and the Sandbar, across the street from the parking area for Belmont Park.
Mo Pope lives nearby and said she was terrified when she heard an unusual number of sirens.
“There was a giant smoke coming out of the top of the building,” Pope said. “It was just pouring out of the side of the windows.”
One man was rescued from the fire and rushed to UC San Diego Medical Center. A second person was injured in the fire but elected not to go to the hospital in an ambulance.
Firefighters used ladders and a ladder engine to access the building's roof. Investigators determined the fire started in a rooftop storage area.
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The cause is undetermined, according to a fire department spokesperson.
The multiple-story building is home to Dreyer's Ice Cream and Kojack's restaurant on the first floor.
Residences on the second floor sustained fire and water damage, fire officials said, while the businesses below suffered water damage only.
Crews had the fire knocked down at 7:25 a.m. but were still on scene.
A chaplain was headed to the location as well, according to the fire department spokesperson.
Battalion Chief Ed Kinnamon said a metal stairwell was energized from nearby electrical lines so crews put up ladders to get to the roof from the street level.
The age of the building also created a challenge for firefighters.
“These old buildings are made out of plaster so it’s not the easy drywall. So it’s physically intense to pull the stuff just to confirm the fire is out,” Kinnamon said.
Images: Fire Along Mission Beach Boardwalk
San Diego Gas and Electric said 73 customers were without power as of 4 p.m. Powar wasn't expected to be restored until 6 a.m. Wednesday, the utility said.
Crews were also working to replace a large wooden power pole next to the building and some of the wiring that was attached to it.
