One Hospitalized After Lithium-Ion Battery Fire at Seneca Hotel, a Tenderloin Supportive Housing Site

Incident at supportive-housing hotel prompted street closures and a one-alarm response Wednesday night

One person was taken to a hospital after a fire broke out Wednesday night, March 4, 2026, at the Seneca Hotel in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. Fire crews responded at about 9:10 p.m. to reports of a structure fire at the hotel, located on the 40 block of Sixth Street near the Market Street corridor.

Fire officials said the blaze was contained to the room where it started, on the fourth floor. The injured person was transported for medical evaluation and treatment. No additional injuries were reported in the initial response, and officials did not release the person’s condition.

The incident commander reported that the fire appeared to have been sparked by a lithium-ion battery. Fire officials did not specify the device involved or whether the battery was being used, stored, or charged at the time.

Building role and neighborhood context

The Seneca Hotel operates as permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless adults and is managed by the Tenderloin Housing Clinic. The property includes 195 units. The Tenderloin contains a high concentration of single-room-occupancy and supportive-housing buildings, where fires can pose elevated risks because of dense occupancy, limited egress, and residents’ varying mobility and health needs.

Why lithium-ion battery fires draw special concern

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in e-bikes, scooters, hoverboards, skateboards, and other powered mobility devices, as well as consumer electronics. Fire officials in San Francisco and across California have repeatedly warned that battery failures can ignite intense, fast-moving fires that may be difficult to suppress and can produce hazardous smoke.

San Francisco has adopted local fire-code requirements intended to reduce risk from the charging and storage of lithium-ion batteries for powered mobility devices, including rules that took effect in March 2024. Separately, California law that took effect January 1, 2024, set standards affecting how certain personal micromobility devices may be stored and charged in rental housing, including provisions tied to recognized safety certifications and insurance options.

What residents and property operators are generally advised to do

• Use chargers and batteries designed for the specific device and avoid damaged or altered packs.
• Prioritize devices and batteries meeting recognized safety standards (such as UL certifications commonly referenced in safety guidance).
• Charge in areas that keep pathways clear and allow residents to exit quickly in an emergency.
• Report overheating, unusual odors, smoke, or swelling immediately and stop charging if warning signs appear.

Fire officials asked the public to avoid the Sixth Street area near Mission and Market during the response due to emergency vehicles and ongoing operations.

As of Thursday morning, March 5, 2026, investigators had not released additional details about the battery source, the extent of damage beyond the room of origin, or whether any residents were displaced.