Vacant Oakland structures, previously fire-damaged, hit by new blazes

OAKLAND — Two vacant structures previously damaged by fires — an East Oakland warehouse and a West Oakland house — were both ravaged by new blazes Monday night and Tuesday morning, officials said.

No injuries were reported in either fire.

The cause of both fires is under investigation. Officials said they believe squatters had roles in both fires.

The two-alarm warehouse fire, in the 4200 block of East 12th Street near High Street, erupted about 8:27 p.m. Monday. Some 30 firefighters brought the blaze under control by about 8:50 p.m. A damage figure was not available.

Authorities said the building, which used to house a foundry and manufacturing operation, had suffered a previous fire but the exact date was not immediately known.

Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said based on the damage from the fires, city building officials had red-tagged the building, meaning it is unsafe for occupancy.

The other fire started about 5:38 a.m. Monday outside a boarded-up two-story Victorian home in the 800 block of Mead Avenue near San Pablo Avenue.

The fire spread to the house and it was brought under control by 35 firefighters in about a half-hour, officials said.

A damage figure was not available. The house was also red-tagged by city inspectors, Hunt said.

The date of the previous fire at the house was not available.