Features

Elevated House Takes Tumble 

Something went awry last Monday after contractors elevated a house at 1112 Bancroft Way in preparation for building a new foundation and the dwelling slipped off its supports and into the adjoining driveway, said Berkeley Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. 

“We were able to secure the driveway and brace up the structure, but it did displace families living in two other properties to the rear of the site,” he said. 

The ailing dwelling is now fenced off, awaiting more repairs. 

Power Substation Blows 

The Pacific Gas & Electric substation at Hearst and McGee avenues blew a transformer just before 7 p.m. last Wednesday, igniting several trees and a car after red-hot 1,200-volt high tension lines dropped from their polls, according to Orth.  

The incident caused a wide-spread power outage. Power was restored to a majority of homes within an hour.