Fire burns vacant Oakland commercial building inhabited by squatters; 1 injured
OAKLAND -- Oakland fire crews have a two-alarm structure fire under control early Friday on the corner of Edgewater Drive and Pendleton Way.
Crews brought the fire under control by 2:09 a.m., a little more than an hour after it began, according to tweets from the Oakland Fire Department.
Crews are on scene of a 2 Alarm structure fire on Edgewater at Pendleton Way. One patient has been transported for smoke inhalation. Fire is contained but not yet Under Control, per Incident Commander. 40 mins into incident. More updates to come. pic.twitter.com/cX0fmncg2v
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) May 20, 2022
One resident of the building was taken to a local hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. Fire officials said the approximately 5,000 square-foot building appeared to be a former commercial space inhabited by squatters.
PG&E and building inspector were at the scene of the fire as of 3:30 a.m.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. The building was to be placed on fire watch until further notice, the fire department said.
Update 3 (Final): Great work by all responding crews. Cause of the fire is under investigation. The approx 5000 sq ft Building will be placed on Fire Watch until further notice. Evidence suggests that transient populations occupied it. PG&E & Building Inspectors were on scene. https://t.co/cexMplS0RZ pic.twitter.com/lJhpXqPqob
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) May 20, 2022