Early morning fire damages 3 Oakland homes

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Crews battled a 2-alarm fire in an Oakland neighborhood Monday morning.

Fire officials say it's believed the fire started at an abandoned home at 72nd Avenue and Hamilton, near the Oakland Coliseum, just after 4:30 a.m.

The fire quickly spread to another home that was under renovation, and a third home where a family was living.

"I saw the light coming out, and the first thing I thought was fire. So I was trying to get my water hose. But the policeman said just move, because you never know of the gas," said Michael Okuda of Oakland.

Oakland police were among the first to arrive at the scene. They quickly evacuated an estimated 30 to 40 nearby residents. because of a gas leak coming from one of the homes on fire.

But once fire crews arrived, so did PG&E to quickly shut off the gas line.

"Luckily there weren't any explosions so that was the bright part you know, Nobody got hurt," said Okuda.

Residents who were evacuated in the area were later allowed to return home.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.