Oakland firefighters rescue nearly 100 in apartment fire

A three-alarm fire broke out at a four-story, 21-unit apartment building in East Oakland early Friday morning. The fire, reported shortly after 12:40 a.m. on the 5100 block of Bancroft Avenue, resulted in the rescue of approximately 100 people from multiple floors. While no fatalities were reported, four occupants were transported to the hospital with various injuries.

Approximately 65 firefighters responded to the scene. Following the incident, the building has been red-tagged, and the city’s Planning and Building Department is expected to investigate. A temporary shelter has been established for the displaced residents at the Ira Jinkins Community Center.

Records indicate the building has a history of code enforcement violations, including issues with heat, power, missing smoke detectors, and lack of sprinklers. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.