More than 70 CA Firefighters Extinguish 5-Alarm Blaze
By Harry Harris and David DeBolt
Source The Mercury News
OAKLAND, CA—Firefighters needed two hours Wednesday morning to bring a five-alarm blaze in the Chinatown area under control, officials said.
Firefighters remained on the scene for several more hours doing overhaul and making sure there were no flareups.
Oakland Interim Fire Chief Melinda Drayton said it appears a dumpster fire spread to the two-story building on the 700 block of Webster Street near Seventh Street at about 8:15 a.m. The fire went to a fifth alarm about 9:12 a.m. and was declared under control at 10:15 a.m.
Multiple businesses are located on the ground floor, with residences above. There were no reports of any injuries.
“We believe the fire raced up between the two buildings in a really tight space and got inside,” Drayton said.
There was reports of heavy fire in the attic of one building and firefighters were trying to prevent the fire from spreading to other buildings. As of 9:45 a.m., the blaze was contained to the single structure.
Streets in the area were shut down, and smoke from the fire could be seen for miles. Fire crews from outside agencies were brought in to staff Oakland firehouses as about 70 Oakland firefighters battled the blaze.
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