OAKLAND — Five people were injured in a two-alarm fire Tuesday afternoon that damaged at least a dozen units in an apartment building in a West Oakland neighborhood, authorities said.
At 4:13 p.m., firefighters responded to reports of a commercial fire alarm in the 700 block of Market Street in the city’s Acorn neighborhood, Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said. Moments later, other callers alerted dispatchers that the fire was in a multi-story apartment building.
The first of eleven engines arrived at the City Towers complex within five minutes. Firefighters found flames coming from one of several buildings.
Moments later, at 4:24 p.m., firefighters heard a “mayday” call from the building’s sixth floor, alerting them that one of their own were down. Rescuers soon managed to retrieve two firefighters safely for treatment at the scene. Battalion chiefs called a second alarm at 4:39 p.m.; three trucks and three battalion chiefs joined the department’s command staff at the scene while ladder truck companies worked to retrieve residents calling for help from apartment balconies.
The fire was under control about half an hour later at 5:04 p.m., Hunt said.
Two Oakland firefighters suffered unspecified injuries while fighting the blaze, and were taken to an area hospital for treatment before their clearances Tuesday night and Wednesday. A third firefighter initially treated at the scene for smoke inhalation was later taken to Saint Francis Memorial Hospital in San Francisco and listed in stable condition.
“Incidents like these are extremely challenging from a mental, physical and emotional standpoint,” Oakland Fire Department Chief Reginald Freeman said in a statement Wednesday.
“Right now, our thoughts are with our member who remains hospitalized, and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that our three injured firefighters, their families, and all our personnel who have been impacted by this event have immediate access to the support and care they need and deserve.”
Two civilians were also injured, but their injuries and conditions were not immediately available.
Update on #OFD firefighters injured during the 2Alarm incident on 2/15/22: One member was released from the hospital after tests and observation last night. A second member was released from the hospital today. The third is still hospitalized. Please keep them in your thoughts. pic.twitter.com/ZaRFXamaPL
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) February 16, 2022
Oakland police also responded to provide traffic control, while Pacific Gas & Electric crew members worked to shut off power in and near the building.
Investigators were on scene working to determine a cause, and did not release any preliminary assessment Wednesday. There was no immediate damage estimate, but residents of a dozen units received support from Red Cross Bay Area staff on scene, Hunt said Tuesday night.
Update from @ChiefFreemanOFD on the 2Alarm incident in the 700 block of Market Street. A third #OFD member has been transported to a local hospital since his statement to media. More details to come. pic.twitter.com/S0ZQcBJzJC
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) February 16, 2022
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
