Vegetation fires set along Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland allegedly by person with blowtorch
Police detained a person allegedly seen using a blowtorch Monday to set multiple vegetation fires along the Interstate Highway 880 corridor in Oakland, authorities said.
The Oakland Fire Department said crews responded to a series of fires between Fruitvale Avenue and High Street/Oakport Street at around 12:30 p.m. Monday.
The fires emitted smoke that wafted across traffic lanes on Highway 880 and created backups in both directions, KCBS Radio reported.
Traffic Advisory: OFD Crews are responding to multiple vegetation fires along I-880 between between Fruitvale Ave and High Street/Oakport Street. Please drive carefully. @KCBSAMFMTraffic
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) July 29, 2024
The Fire Department said crews were able to extinguish all the fires and units were released from the scenes as of 1:10 p.m. and that police had detained a person observed setting the fires with a blowtorch.
Oakland police had not yet issued a public statement on the fires or the individual detained. The fire department had no immediate word on the extent of the area burned.