Fire at scrap metal yard near Port of Oakland affecting air quality in parts of the Bay Area
OAKLAND -- A large recycling yard fire along Oakland's waterfront was under control nearly four hours after it started but the blaze was still giving off smoke as fire crews continued to pour water on it Wednesday night.
Plumes of dark smoke drifting from the Schnitzer Steel recycling yard fire in Oakland prompted an air quality advisory for the East Bay from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. People in the South Bay even reported smelling smoke.
UPDATE: Schnitzer Steel has history of fires at Oakland scrap yard; Paid to settle environmental claims
The fire began around 5:30 p.m., and it was under control just before 10 p.m., the Oakland Fire Department said.
But the smoke was still being sent up into the air as crews continued to douse the debris pile with water.
Dianne Williams and her husband were trying to enjoy a birthday dinner at Jack London Square when they noticed the smell of smoke inside the restaurant.
"When we came in, they didn't tell us that it was smoke or anything and they didn't mention it," Williams said. "The only time we noticed it is when we saw it and smelled it and the people in back of us told us it's been going on all afternoon."
The Air District eventually issued an air quality advisory, urging people to stay inside with doors and windows closed. Some businesses at Jack London Square offered masks as people left.
"After everything had happened, they offered us a mask. And I said, 'It's not going to do us any good now, because we're leaving,'" Williams said.
The Oakland Fire Department also issued an advisory to avoid the Jack London Square area. Onoria Luna and her children had to walk through the area to get home and noticed the black smoke rising up into the sky as they rode the ferry into Oakland.
"You could see the smoke in the air and you can see it going towards Alameda," Luna said.
A hazardous materials team from the Oakland Fire Department will be testing the air quality and providing updates.
