No injuries in smoky Tenderloin blaze that snarls downtown SF traffic

Firefighters enter a building undergoing renovation at Mason and Eddy streets after a fire started on the third floor in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. Firefighters enter a building undergoing renovation at Mason and Eddy streets after a fire started on the third floor in San Francisco, Calif. on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017. Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Paul Chinn, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close No injuries in smoky Tenderloin blaze that snarls downtown SF traffic 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

A smoky two-alarm fire in San Francisco’s Tenderloin Saturday morning sent heavy smoke into the air and snarled traffic on the busiest shopping day of the season.

There were no reported injuries from the fire, which broke out around 11 a.m. in a four-story white brick building under renovation at Mason and Eddy streets. Smoke billowed from upper floors and the roof.

Firefighters contained the blaze around noon and had it entirely out by about 12:45 p.m. The Little Delhi restaurant on the lower floor sustained some damage, said Lt. Jonathan Baxter, a Fire Department spokesman.

One resident climbed down a fire engine ladder unaided from the third floor in what Baxter called a “self-rescue.” The building was surrounded by scaffolding and a black tarp.

Traffic was blocked off for several blocks in the area while black and white smoke filled the sky. Holiday shoppers stood behind yellow tape and watched firefighters at work.

Spectator Charles Chapman of San Francisco, said he was attracted by all the smoke.

“It was just billowing out,” he said, and then he watched as firefighters made their way down a ladder.

“Look at that,” he said.

Steve Rubenstein and Sophie Haigney are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com and Sophie.Haigney@sfchronicle.com