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OAKLAND, Calif. — The National Response Team of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been activated by request from the City of Oakland to investigate a fire at the Red Star Senior Apartments.
According to a release, on June 14, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a fire destroyed the Red Star Senior Apartments, a 119 unit apartment complex under construction located at Seventh Street and Mandela Parkway. Preliminary estimate of property damage is $25 million. Participating agencies include the Oakland Fire and Police Departments.
The fire occurred next to the West Oakland Bay Area Rapid Transit station and caused all lines between San Francisco and Oakland to be shut down. In addition, track insulators, communication cables, electrical cables and other trackside equipment were damaged. The damage estimates do not include damage caused to the Bay Area Rapid Transit station.
“ATF is investigating this fire jointly with the Oakland Fire Department and Oakland Police Department. We will coordinate our efforts and provide our expertise and resources to determine the origin and cause of this fire,” said Jeffery E. Vind, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Acting Special Agent in Charge of the San Francisco Field Division.
Officials noted that this is the ninth activation of the National Response Team in Fiscal Year 2012 and number 730 since the inception of the team in 1978. The National Response Team will include 22 team members and is expected to be on scene today.
“ATF’s activation of its National Response Team speaks to the seriousness of the fire that occurred in West Oakland, and the impact it had on thousands of Bay Area residents who were affected by the BART station closure,” said Teresa Deloach Reed, Oakland Fire Chief. “It is our responsibility to do all we can to identify the cause of this fire, and bring the individuals who may be responsible to justice.”
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