Firefighters in Oakland said they were making good headway into a 4-alarm fire at a lumber yard that was first reported around 7:45 p.m. on Sunday and had required at least 75 firefighters.
The fire had generated intense heat and smoke, but no one has been injured, according to a spokesperson for Oakland Fire.
The fire at Economy Lumber in the 700 block of High Street became a 2-alarm blaze at about 8 p.m., then quickly escalated to a 4-alarm fire by 8:15 p.m., according to Michael Hunt with Oakland Fire.
Upon arrival, crews encountered heavy fire heading into the main building where it quickly became established, posing a challenge and requiring more crews.
People were asked to avoid the area, especially vehicles near Interstate Highway 880 near High Street, according to Hunt. The fire department also suggested residents in the area keep windows and doors shut to prevent smoke from entering homes. Hunt said that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District has been called in to determine air quality in the area.
Rail travel near the site has been halted in both directions, according to Oakland Fire, and traffic in the area was impacted.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
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