3-alarm fire breaks out at residential building in Downtown Oakland
Tenants displaced by fire in Oakland are grateful and relieved to be alive
Tenants displaced by an apartment building fire in Oakland are grateful and relieved to be alive. They're now scrambling to find housing.
OAKLAND, Calif. - A three-alarm blaze broke out at a residential building in Downtown Oakland early on Monday morning.
Residential building burns
What we know:
The Oakland Fire Department told KTVU that the fire was first reported at the five-story, 43-unit building – located at 19th Street and Broadway – just before 7:10 a.m.
(Amanda Quintana)
The OFD said at least 60 firefighters were at the scene to combat the blaze, and the building had been evacuated in the interest of safety. Among those shepherded to safety were 12 people who work at two Oakland restaurants owned by Paul Iglesias, including a family with 5-week-old twin girls.
Residents said it was challenging to escape the fire amid heavy smoke.
"I open my front door, and there's just black smoke, heavy black smoke," said Keisha Bigbie. "I'm grateful that I'm alive and well. I give the Lord thanks that I didn't die."
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said, "We are resassuring our residents that our fire department is ready. They are here. This is a day when I think they can be thanked."
Councilmember Carroll Fife said, "My heart is breaking, because I know the people who lived here, lived here because it was affordable, so as we're trying to figure out where they go next, I'm visualizing in my district and throughout the city of Oakland where are the affordable places they can live"
Fire rips through Oakland apartment building
Dozens of people are without a permanent home after fire ripped through a downtown apartment building in Oakland Monday morning. There were a handful of injuries but none were serious.
Mistah F.A.B.'s store burns
Bay Area hip hop legend Mistah F.A.B. owns the Dope Era clothing store located on the first floor of the building, and told KTVU his brother called him early in the morning to tell him about the fire.
"You could hear the fire alarms going off in the back, and you know, I just… my heart just dropped to the bottom," Mistah F.A.B. said.
Despite the destruction, Mistah F.A.B. said he was thankful that no one was seriously injured in the blaze and that, ultimately, items can be replaced.
"My store is the least of my worries," Mistah F.A.B. said. "I think the most important thing is to make sure that everyone's evacuated safely, that there's no deaths and whoever was affected, that they're okay."
Mistah F.A.B. speaks out amid destructive Oakland fire
Mistah F.A.B. spoke with KTVU amid a Monday morning residential fire that scorched a building housing a clothing store that he owns.
The intersection at 19th Street and Broadway was closed to traffic as firefighters worked to clear the scene, though the OFD noted that the fire was brought under control by about 8:40 a.m.
At least one firefighter had to be evaluated at the scene for a minor injury. (Gregory Grinsell)
The OFD told KTVU that "less than five" patients – including one firefighter – were evaluated at the scene. Three of the patients were taken to a hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Building's owner declines to comment
Ted Dang, the building's owner and one-time Oakland mayoral candidate, declined to comment when contacted by KTVU. He said he did not know how the fire started.
Tenants speak
Terry Franklin is among the dozens of tenants who escaped the fast-moving fire. He said he was allowed to return hours after the early-morning fire to grab some necessities.
"I was scared to the point of where I couldn't see what was in front of me, you know?" said Franklin. "I'm just happy nobody was hurt. Nobody lost their life. I thank god that I'm able to stand up, able to breathe and hopefully be able to see another day."
He said a firefighter came to his 4th-floor apartment to evacuate him and guided him down the stairs as smoke filled the building, plunging the inside into darkness.
The 5-week-old twin girls were among those who suffered smoke inhalation. Our reporters saw them after they were treated and released from the hospital. Both their mom and dad work at Jaji restaurant.
"It's heartbreaking for so many reasons. First, it's 200 people who live here, 47 units. It's right downtown. Think about it—it's their homes," said Iglesias, owner of Jaji and Parche.
Building red-tagged
The building is now red-tagged. Investigators say the fire started on the second floor. A tenant said a firefighter informed him that the likely cause was a lithium-ion battery that caught fire.
The fire department would only say that it is trying to determine where the fire started and the cause.
The Red Cross has set up a shelter at Wilie Keyes Recreation Center where a worker said up to 20 tenants are expected to show up here.
Online fundraiser
What you can do:
The restaurant owner has started an online fundraiser for his employees who've lost their homes. The Red Cross will be working with tenants to get them temporary housing.