Arsonist damages converted firehouse in Tower District; heavy smoke damage reported

A former firehouse in the Tower District that was converted into a home was damaged early Tuesday morning in an arson attack, investigators reported.

The incident took place about 1 a.m. in the 1500 block of North Van Ness Avenue, according to Deputy Fire Marshal Jay Tracy, who classified the fire as “an arson event.”

Tracy said there was some fire damage from the crime, but also heavy smoke damage. The total amount of damage was still being assessed. No suspects were in custody.

Tracy classified the home as “very unique.” The building has not been used as a fire station for decades; perhaps since the ‘50s, he said, but there was no one in the department Tuesday who could remember exactly when it went out of service.

Firefighters reported that the type of device used to cause the fire generated heavy, black smoke. No one was injured in the fire, but the residents will be displaced, Tracy said.

This story was originally published July 28, 2020 at 8:58 AM.