Oakland warehouse fire on east 8th Street spreads to 2nd building, burns multiple vehicles

OAKLAND, Calif. — A large fire that began in a commercial warehouse in Oakland on Friday afternoon and spread to a second building and multiple vehicles was under control by 8 p.m., the Fire Department said.

Preliminary investigations show that the building was possibly being used as a cannabis grow site, Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt said.

At least 75 firefighters battled the four-alarm fire in a commercial warehouse in the 5200 block of East Eighth Street near the Coliseum after the call came in at 4:55 p.m.

The fire engulfed multiple vehicles, including an RV, and a utility pole, Hunt said. The blaze also spread to a vacant residential property adjacent to the warehouse.

As of 8 p.m., the entire scene was extinguished and under control, Hunt said.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee praised the firefighters on Friday evening.

“Thank you to the Oakland Fire Department for their outstanding response to today’s four-alarm fire on the 5200 block of East 8th Street,” said Lee in an email. “Thanks to their swift action and expertise, the fire is under control with no injuries reported. I also want to thank the Oakland Police Department for their crucial support in securing the area and managing traffic during this emergency response. Our firefighters’ bravery and dedication to keeping Oakland safe is truly commendable.”

Just as things were stabilizing at the warehouse site, a second call came in at 7:12 p.m. for a quarter-acre vegetation blaze near Bishop O’Dowd High School at 9500 Stearns Avenue, Hunt said. That fire required 30 firefighters but was extinguished by 7:38 p.m.

The causes of both fires are still under investigation.

Stay with ABC7 News for the latest details on this developing story.