Oakland apartment building near Lake Merritt damaged in early morning fire
A Dumpster fire that spread to an apartment building in Oakland's Lake Merritt neighborhood early Wednesday morning damaged four of the building's units, according to fire officials.
The two-alarm fire at the three-story building on the corner of 9th and Madison streets started at around 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, the Oakland Fire Department said in a post on X.
A 2-Alarm Fire at approximately 530AM has temporarily displaced 38 residents from a 3 story apartment building at 9th & Madison. Strong work by responding #OFD crews prevented damage to 26 units, but 4 units suffered smoke & fire damage. Cause of fire under investigation. pic.twitter.com/h7UXJmyCb1
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) August 14, 2024
The building is located two blocks away from the Lake Merritt BART station, about the same distance away from the Oakland Museum of California.
Officials said the fire started in a Dumpster in the rear of the property before spreading to the building. A quick response from the Oakland Fire Department limited the damage to just four of the 26 units in the building, but those four units sustained smoke and fire damage, officials said.
The fire has temporarily displaced 38 residents from the apartment building. The cause of fire under investigation.
The Red Cross posted that it would open a shelter at 6:30 p.m. tonight for residents affected at the Lake Merritt Sail Boat House located at 568 Bellevue Ave. in Oakland.
OAKLAND APARTMENT FIRE SHELTER: 08/14 at 6:30pm
— Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region (@RedCrossNorCal) August 15, 2024
The Red Cross will open a shelter at 6:30 p.m. tonight for residents affected by today's 9th St. apartment fire in Oakland.
📍 Lake Merritt Sail Boat House: 568 Bellevue Ave. Oakland, CA 94610. Map: https://t.co/DWwXj0xb32 pic.twitter.com/jFBMFYp6g5