5 injured in 3-alarm fire at high rise apartment building in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- At least five people were treated for minor injuries after a 3-alarm fire damaged 23 units at the Gateway Apartments and Townhomes in San Francisco overnight.

Firefighters responded to Gateway East, near the Embarcadero, around 1:20 a.m. Friday. Flames could be seen shooting from an apartment on the 11th floor. The fire department reported the 11th, 12th and 13th floors of the building were evacuated. Other residents were asked to shelter-in-place.

Firefighters said the blaze was challenging because there are no sprinklers in the building.

A couple had to climb from one balcony to another after their apartment caught fire. They are safe and were able to evacuate.

Firefighters are investigating the cause of the blaze, but residents said a scooter caught fire as it was charging.

This isn't the first time a building in the complex caught fire. In October 2018 floors 12 to 16 of Gateway South were damaged by fire. Residents from 30 units were displaced and a handful of people were treated for smoke inhalation and anxiety. There was also a fire in one of the towers last month. Residents were asked to shelter in place, but many still evacuated. It is unclear what started it.