$100,000 damage as Oakland fire spreads from camp to police vans

A fire that started at an encampment in downtown Oakland last week spread to the Police Department’s transportation lot, leaving three vans destroyed and more than $100,000 in damage, police said.

A resident of the encampment on Broadway said the fire that came from their lit barbecue pit grew out of control, according to police when they first arrived at the scene.

The flames set fire to the person’s belongings and then spread into the eastern side of the lot. The fire also damaged the lot’s fencing, police said.

Oakland police and the Oakland Fire Department responded to reports of the fire shortly before 3:45 a.m. Tuesday. The fire department quickly contained the flames, according to a news release.

No injuries were reported.

Oakland Police Department Three Oakland police vans were destroyed after a fire that started at a downtown encampment spread to a department lot.