Homeless Man Detained After Oakland Warehouse Fire

By: Brian Shields - Fri, 13 Apr 2012 21:47:14 -0800
OAKLAND (KRON) -- A dispute between a landlord and homeless squatters may be the reason for a warehouse fire that send smoke pouring into the air over Oakland Friday.

About 50 firefighters had to extinguish the flames at the warehouse at 845 E. Ninth Ave.  Drivers on I-880 near Fruitvale could see the flames.

Witnesses say the fire started after a confrontation between a homeless squatter and the building's owner.  

"If he didn't get all of his stuff out, then instead of losing his stuff, he would rather burn the warehouse down," property manager Corrida Castle tells KRON 4's Da Lin.  "He kept breaking in to get his stuff, in and out, in and out.  Just like all of these people who should not be here, they keep breaking in.  How they stay warm is they'll start a fire inside the warehouse but that's not what this is.  This is a case of deliberate arson."

Police questioned and later detained the homeless man on possible arson charges.

Smoke from the fire prompted the evacuation of a nearby daycare center.  None of the children or anyone else was hurt.

(Copyright 2012, KRON 4, All rights reserved.)
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