Amy Graff
SFGate, San Francisco
(TNS)
Jul. 30—A two-story building with a well-loved independent bookstore that fronts College Avenue in Oakland’s Rockridge district was destroyed in an early morning fire Tuesday, officials said.
The fire department received a 911 call just before 5:30 a.m. reporting the fire at 5433 College Ave., said Michael Hunt, a spokesperson for the Oakland Fire Department. “It was a three-alarm fire,” he said. “Typically, the alarms are based on both the size of the fire and the risk the fire presents.”
East Bay Booksellers was gutted by flames, and several other businesses in the building were also destroyed, including an art collection space, an investment consulting firm and therapy offices, according to Hunt. This fire was high-risk due to the neighboring building that houses businesses and four apartments.
“The fire did extend into the residential building. At least two units suffered direct fire damage, and others had smoke and water damage,” Hunt said. Residents were evacuated and safe. Five people were displaced due to the fire, and the Red Cross has connected with them, he said. A coffee shop and a hair salon on the bottom floor of the residential building did not burn.
The fire did not spread to George & Walt’s, a bar housed in the building to the right of East Bay Booksellers.
The main commercial space in the building originally housed the Diesel bookstore for 28 years. The store’s name was changed to East Bay Booksellers in 2017 under new ownership.
“It breaks my heart to confirm it: the bookstore has completely burned in this morning’s fire,” a message posted on the East Bay Booksellers’ Facebook said. “What has just happened is overwhelming. … But we’ll get there, and we’ll let you know how you can help get us there.”
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