Rob AriasThe residential project at 3800 San Pablo Avenue dubbed “The Intersection” succumbed to a massive blaze this morning. This was the second time in less than a year that the project was the victim of a fire. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.
Firefighters first responded to the scene at 4:58 a.m. and reported containing the blaze by about 6:30 a.m.. Once the blaze was contained, representatives from the crane contractor began assessing the stability of their mangled piece of equipment that towered over the wreckage.
Oakland fire @OaklandFireLive @SFGate pic.twitter.com/wALAXh1Fwz
— jessica.s.oh (@jessicasoh) May 13, 2017
#Emeryville: #ALCOFirefighters & Oakland firefighters battling multi-alarm fire at 3800 San Pablo. #workingfire pic.twitter.com/TIQS3JiwGB
— Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) May 13, 2017
The previous 6-alarm fire occurred less than a year ago on July 6th. This was a 5-alarm fire. Both incidents occurred in the early morning.
Embers from the blaze reportedly sparked some minor grass fires in vacant lots and at least one home two blocks away.
Two blocks away a roof has caught fire, presumably from an ember. pic.twitter.com/xXUbbk41OI
— Michael Cabanatuan (@ctuan) May 13, 2017
Despite escalated security and video surveillance, early enough warning was not provided to prevent the blaze from engulfing the $35 million housing project. The familiar site of twisted cranes and scaffolding could be seen amid fire crews and dissipating smoke.
Chronicle Reporter Sarah Ravani noted that nearby residents were being evacuated because officials were worried the construction crane may collapse.
Residents to evacuate from the 3900 block Adeline. Officials worried that crane might collapse, don’t know which way it’ll fall #emeryville pic.twitter.com/YzaUQ4PS1F
— Sarah Ravani (@SarRavani) May 13, 2017
The July 6th fire caused damage to adjacent properties including some townhouses, an auto repair business and the facade of the new development on 3900 Adeline.
Nearby businesses Monster Pho and Scarlet City were not directly impacted, but both closed for the day. Nearby businesses have been banking that this development and others would bring more pedestrian thoroughfare that could provide a boost to business activity. Scarlet City in fact opened early to help accommodate emergency crews.
Arson was suspected and investigated by the ATF in the previous incident, and it would have to cross the minds of most this time around. Projects Developer Rick Holliday confirmed his suspicion when contacted by the SF Chronicle. “This is obviously arson,” he told them, clearly frustrated. “This is an attack on housing.”
Motives for any arson are unclear, but the project’s approval was not popular with some housing advocates because it didn’t contain units designated “affordable” or “family-friendly.”
The project was to be the cornerstone of a revitalized San Pablo “Star Intersection” but one has to wonder where they go from here. The developers, Holliday Development, are responsible for many local projects including The Emeryville Warehouse Lofts, Blue Star Corner and West Oakland’s Pacific Cannery Lofts.
Alameda County Fire, whom Emeryville contracts fire services from, noted that the cause is under investigation and that the site would remain under watch for the next 24 hours.
The Emeryville PD provided a press release noting that traffic in the area would be impacted until the investigation is completed. The streets currently closed to traffic are:
- San Pablo Ave between 37th St and 40th St
- Adeline St between 36th St and Yerba Buena Ave
- 39th St between Adeline St and Market St
- Apgar St between W. Macarthur Blvd and Market St
- W. Macarthur Blvd between Emery St and Market St.
Since this is breaking news, we will update this post as new information becomes available.
#Emeryville #fire in the same exact building as July 2016. 5-alarm fire, no reported injuries, started from the top of building again. pic.twitter.com/FUJQqK5Q6Z
— CJ (@TotezJazzed) May 13, 2017
Update: #ALCOFirefighters, Oakland firefighters battling 5-alarm fire at 3800 San Pablo on Oakland/Emeryville border. No reports of injuries pic.twitter.com/0lwKFzRZx2
— Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) May 13, 2017
NBC: 5-Alarm Building Fire in Oakland-Emeryville Border Contained https://t.co/6LnfUc5VTQ pic.twitter.com/DXnDKuBvGc
— Inside the Bay Area (@insidebayarea) May 13, 2017
Updates: Red Cross has arrived to help evacuated residents. The ACSO UAS team is on scene to provide aerial footage of the fire. #Emeryville pic.twitter.com/91DSRsUCyu
— Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) May 13, 2017
Thank you Cyrus & family for coming out to provide coffee to our hard working police & fire fighters @TheEvilleEye pic.twitter.com/3b9wut3LvI
— Chief Tejada (@ChiefTejada) May 13, 2017
Feature image: @ChiefTejada via Twitter
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Is there any sort of explanation as to how the fire was able to get so intense and so big? I mean it seems like it just goes up in intense flames. Does anyone know when it might have started to begin with? How long did it take to get to the point of the pictures with the project engulfed in flames.
I assume one or both security guards saw the fire and called it in. Is it because it was all wood? I haven’t read of anything used like gas, etc. Just curious.
Thanks Charles. The ATF did not confirm the use of any “accelerants” like flammable fluids or if the arsonist must have had knowledge of the vulnerable state of the project in its framing state … but it seems both are likely. The timestamp says about 2:24 and the fire was started about 2:45 and crews responded at about 4:58.
Where were you at 2:24 am. I saw you at a bar earlier that night and you were talking smack about the complex.
[…] Dave Winnaker, destroyed the project on July 6, 2016. After construction restarted, a second blaze less than a year later consumed the project again despite their beefed-up security protocols. Arson was suspected in both […]