4-Alarm Apartment Fire In Oakland Displaces Dozens Of Residents; 5 Dogs Missing
OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- A blaze that engulfed two adjoining buildings in Oakland's San Antonio District on Wednesday night displaced nearly three dozen people and might have been started by fireworks, a fire battalion chief said Thursday.
The blaze was first called in at 10:48 p.m. near 23rd Street and International Boulevard, a fire dispatcher said.
The fire started in the back of the apartment and soon spread to an adjacent two-story building, taking down nearby power lines in the process.
Residents said they heard a loud bang before the fire started. There are 10 apartments and three businesses in the two buildings. Five dogs were reported missing.
"There was some sort of explosion," said one resident. "It sounded like a car crash in front."
The American Red Cross has found shelter for the 33 displaced residents at the Ira Jenkins Community Center.
The fire was contained at 1:09 a.m. Thursday morning, according to fire dispatchers.
No injuries have been reported. Investigators will be looking into the cause of the fire.
