Operations & Training

Video: CA Firefighters Tackle 2-Alarm Vacant Structure Blaze

Nov. 13, 2020

Around 35 Oakland firefighters battled the fast-moving flames that tore through an abandoned building near Coast Guard Island, causing much of the structure to collapse.

By Rick Hurd

Source Mercury News

Oakland, CA, firefighters battle a two-alarm blaze Friday that broke out at an abandoned building that the city had declared 'unsafe to occupy' at the end of August. — Oakland, CA, firefighters battle a two-alarm blaze Friday that broke out at an abandoned building that the city had declared "unsafe to occupy" at the end of August.

OAKLAND, CA— A two-alarm fire Friday morning at an abandoned building sent a dark plume of smoke high above Oakland and threatened a homeless population, fire officials said.

Firefighters responded to the blaze at about 9:20 a.m. and had it under control by 12:30 p.m., Oakland Fire Lt. Charleton Lightfoot said, but they remained at the scene of the blaze in the 1800 block of Dennison Street well into the afternoon.

The blaze was near Coast Guard Island and sent debris into the estuary that runs between Oakland and Alameda near the island, officials said.

According to Assistant Fire Chief Zoraida Diaz, the city of Oakland red-tagged the building earlier this year, and as a result fire crews were unable to gain entry to the building. Crews sounded a second-alarm because of its size and the accessibility to the building and fought the blaze from the outside, she said.

The blaze also threatened a homeless encampment, but it did not cause any injuries to humans, fire officials said. Crews did find an injured cat that was given over to the animal services department of Alameda County for treatment, Lightfoot said.

The blaze caused much of the building to collapse, though a corner of it still was standing and fenced off, Lightfoot said.

"The extent of the damage to it is enough that it has the potential to fall," Lightfoot said Friday afternoon. "Our biggest concern is to make sure people stay out of the area, especially the folks who are unsheltered, so that they are not in harm's way."

Hazardous materials crews also were called to the blaze, to help clean up the debris in the estuary. Crews used a flotation device that contained material designed to collect soot and other debris from the water, Lightfoot said.

Crews also notified the Coast Guard over concerns that embers from the blaze could blow onto Coast Guard Island and ignite, Diaz said. The fire did not spread.

In all, about 35 firefighters responded to the scene, officials said.

Staff photographers Jose Carlos Fajardo and Dylan Bouscher contributed to this story.

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