Two fires at Berkeley apartment building investigated as possible arsons

BERKELEY – Two fires at a Berkeley apartment building in the span of less than a week are being investigated as possible arsons, police said.

No one has been arrested in connection with either fire, Berkeley police Officer Jessica Perry said Monday.

Both blazes happened at the same three-story apartment building in the 1100 block of Oxford Street.

The first fire was reported around 5:35 a.m. on July 19. Perry said a resident used a garden hose and a fire extinguisher to partially put out the fire before firefighters arrived.

The blaze scorched the south side of the structure, but no one was injured, Perry said.

Residents mentioned seeing a “strip of gasoline fuel on fire” next to the apartment building during the fire, Perry said. Two gasoline cans were also spotted on the sidewalk following the fire.

The second fire was reported around 3:55 a.m. on July 25. This time, the fire involved the east side of the structure, Perry said. Firefighters evacuated the residents, put out the fire and contacted the Red Cross to help residents displaced by the fire.

Perry said some residents were treated for minor smoke inhalation.

People at the scene mentioned a “strong smell of gasoline” during the fire, Perry said.

The Berkeley Police Department’s Detective Bureau is investigating both blazes as possible arsons, Perry said.

“A crime of this nature is something that the Berkeley Police Department takes very seriously,” Perry said. “We are thankful that residents were not seriously injured during these fires and want to reiterate to the community that our detectives are continuing to prioritize this case.”

The fires have left neighbors on edge.

“The occupants of the building were able to put out the first fire with assistance from neighbors,” said one neighbor, who asked not to be named because they feared for their safety. “The second fire was so much bigger. People barely escaped with their lives, and the air was thick with the smell of smoke and gasoline.”

“This was a horrible, traumatic event that could have been so much worse,” the neighbor continued. “At least one resident lost everything. Everyone is displaced and trying to figure out what comes next. I want this person caught before they do it again.”

Perry said the apartment building still had two red-tagged units and three yellow-tagged units as of Friday.