By Harry Harris
Bay Area News Group
SAN LEANDRO — A two-alarm blaze gutted a 7-Eleven store Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
No injuries were reported. The blaze was declared under control at 1:36 p.m.
The fire erupted about 12:20 p.m. at the store at East 14th Street and 136th Avenue, the Alameda County Fire Department said.
People inside the store were able to get out on their own.
Akshey Gaba, a clerk at the store, said someone came into the store and said there was a fire outside, and when the manager went outside to investigate he could see the fire burning. The clerk said he and others then ran out and could also see flames starting to engulf the store.
“It was scary,” he said.
The first battalion to arrive found that the blaze had spread from a bush outside into the eaves of the building, then moved rapidly through the attic, according to Division Chief Heather Marques. Firefighters worked for a period of time on top of the building, but made a strategic retreat as the fire grew, she said.
Fire department spokeswoman Cheryl Hurd said that a portion of the roof eventually collapsed. Water was being poured on the fire from aerial ladders and by ground units.
Streets in the area were shut down while a total of 35 firefighters battled the blaze.
Residents at some adjacent apartments and students and staff at nearby San Leandro High School were told to shelter in place as a precaution, authorities said.
Marques said that authorities were continuing to investigate the possible cause, including a report from eyewitnesses that someone had started the blaze in the bush.
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