Oakland firefighters were working to extinguish a 2-alarm fire Monday morning at a school on College Avenue near the Rockridge BART Station, a fire dispatcher said.
Battalion Chief Geoff Hunter said the fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage. While there was no structural damage to the school, the cafeteria was totally destroyed, Oakland Unified School District spokesman Troy Flint said.
"It's not going to be usable anytime soon," Flint said.
The first report of the fire in the 5700 block of College Avenue came in at 1:49 a.m., the dispatcher said. When firefighters arrived at Claremont Middle School, they found one of the school doors already open, which investigators said is unusual.
A second alarm was called at about 2:20 a.m. and firefighters had extinguished the fire at about 3:10 a.m.
The fire is considered suspicious.
"Well we found an exterior door to the cafeteria was open," Hunter said. "The fire is under investigation at this time. I got a fire investigator on scene that I'm working close with to determine the cause and origin of the fire."
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Hunter said it was an aggressive battle because flames spread to the attic, so firefighters had to cut holes in the ceiling to let the flames out of the roof. It took about 1.5 hours to get the fire out.
Oakland police are also investigating. They said it was possible a window was smashed and the door to the cafeteria was pried open.
While the school was closed Monday for President's Day, the school district said the campus will be open for classes Tuesday. Crews are also checking if there was any damage to the school's electric system or running water.
If the utilities are undamaged, the school will likely open normally Tuesday and provide brown bag lunches in lieu of hot lunches.
A portable unit equipped with a kitchen could be brought to the school as soon as next Monday and the school could resume serving hot lunches, Flint said.
Police are investigating the fire as arson. No injuries were reported.
Claremont Middle School is located at 5750 College Avenue.
#Oakland firefighters wrapping up at Claremont Middle School, suspicious 2am 2alarm in cafeteria where 1 do... https://t.co/eBbyvhOt4h — Stephanie Chuang (@StephChuang) February 16, 2015
#Oakland police crime scene techs just put a couple pieces of evidence in brown bags into vehicle after doo... https://t.co/t1OoV4dH9A — Stephanie Chuang (@StephChuang) February 16, 2015
