By Tim Kingston
The Public Press
An underground fire in the Tenderloin is sending black smoke spewing out of a manhole cover, with one witness saying, "It looks as if the Wicked Witch of the West might shoot out at any second."
Helicopters were hovering as the fire department poured fire retardant into the manhole cover. Police cordoned off a two-block radius, bounded by Geary Street, Van Ness Avenue, Ellis Street and Larkin Street.
As of about 1 p.m. residents had received stay-at-home requests from the police. No evacuations have been ordered, but residents are being asked to shelter in place, said Lt. Mindy Talmadge, spokeswoman for the fire department. The fire started at 11:30 a.m. Friday near Polk and O’Farrell streets.
