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Man sleeping outside Calif. firehouse is struck by fire apparatus while crews respond to blaze

An unhoused man was critically injured after being hit by a fire department pickup exiting Oakland Fire Station 20 with lights and siren activated for a structure fire

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Oakland Engine Company 20.

Oakland Fire Department/Facebook

By Harry Harris
Bay Area News Group

OAKLAND — A man who may have been sleeping outside an East Oakland fire station was injured Monday evening when he was struck by a fire department vehicle responding to a structure blaze, authorities said.

The man, believed to be in his 30s and unhoused, was initially listed in critical condition but was later upgraded to stable, authorities said.

The collision happened about 6:24 p.m. Monday in the driveway outside Fire Station 20 at 1401 98th Ave.

According to initial reports, the man apparently had been laying on the ground against a large roll-up garage door to the station.

A firefighter about to respond to a structure fire got into a department crew cab pickup truck, opened the roll-up door, activated the vehicle’s siren and emergency lights and started driving outside, authorities said. The firefighter apparently did not see the man before striking him.

Firefighters provided first aid to the man before he was taken to a hospital.

Anyone with information about the collision may call police traffic investigators at 510-777-8570.

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