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OAKLAND — Firefighters placed a three-alarm fire in the city’s Laurel District next to Interstate 580 under control, authorities said.
Shortly before 5 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of heavy smoke from 35th Avenue at Quigley Street. When firefighters arrived, they found brush on fire near a homeless encampment with spread approaching the freeway and a nearby structure.
Firefighters called second and third alarms moments later, and Oakland police also responded to the area to assist with traffic control.
Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said all traffic was asked to avoid areas above I-580 from 35th Avenue to High Street, especially below MacArthur Boulevard, and added that the fire, which appeared to have started at the encampment, threatened four structures.
Just after 6 p.m., forward progress appeared to have stopped, thanks to efforts from more than 50 Oakland firefighters aboard about a dozen engines and at least three trucks. Hunt said firefighters from Alameda County, Fremont and Hayward departments fortunately pre-positioned to respond to ongoing red-flag weather conditions also joined in.
Crews were working to douse brush near the freeway, but also focused on ensuring any embers did not land on vulnerable structure roofs or gutters nearby along Quigley.
The fire was contained at 6:10 p.m. and under control by 7:05 p.m., with multiple crews released from the scene beforehand, Hunt said.
There were no immediate reports of injuries, and an official cause was under investigation.
The fire is along 35th Ave, just above Westbound 580 and across from the gas station below MacArthur. #OFD is on scene
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
Multiple crews are responding to a vegetation fire along westbound 580 freeway at 35th Ave. Updates to follow. #OFD. Please Avoid the area. We are 20 minutes into this incident. pic.twitter.com/QM7oDF56jX
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
Update: This incident has gone to a 3rd Alarm. Units now responding to Loma Vista and Quigley. #OFD https://t.co/LTmKeWPdm0
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
Update: Forward progress on this fire has stopped. This fire is confined but not contained. Firefighters continue to look for hot spots, and are actively working to prevent exposures from vegetation behind residential properties along Quigley b/w 35th and Loma Vista. #OFD
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
Update from the 35th Ave Fire from #OFD Deputy @ChiefLuby. Credit goes to the aggressive fire attack actions of the first & subsequent units dispatched to the scene, who made sure OFD was able to prevent any significant damage to property, injuries or loss of life tonight. pic.twitter.com/6N2JDb4vlv
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
This 3-Alarm Incident off 35th Ave at 580 freeway was announced as UNDER CONTROL by the Incident Commander at 1905 HRS (7:05pm). #OFD
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 23, 2020
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180