Firefighters control three-alarm fire beside I-580

OAKLAND >> Firefighters battled a three-alarm fire in the city’s Laurel District next to Interstate 580 for more than two hours on Thursday to extinguish the blaze, 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.