OAKLAND — A two-alarm fire Wednesday morning displaced 38 residents at a Chinatown District apartment complex, officials said.
The fire did not cause any injuries.
The blaze started about 5:30 a.m. outside the multi-story apartment building in the 100 block of 9th Street, Oakland Fire spokesperson Michael Hunt said. It quickly spread to it.
Fire officials called for a second alarm about 5:45 a.m. Hunt said crews were concerned about the size of the building and the possible need for an evacuation as they prevented the fire’s spread.
Residents of the building got out on their own. Hunt said the displacements were temporary.
The blaze damaged the power supply system in the apartment, forcing the shut down of power in the entire building, Hunt said. That caused the displacement of the residents, he said.
Red Cross is working with the occupants to determine the next step for them, Hunt said. City workers are doing what they can to restore power to the building. There was no time estimate for when that might happen.
Firefighters had the fire under control quickly but remained on the scene for a few more hours making sure there were no flareups.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. A damage figure was not immediately available.
According to on-line accounts, the three story building was constructed in 1925 and has 31 living units.