Features

UC recycling center demolished in blaze 

A pre-dawn two-alarm fire Monday destroyed the Albany offices of UC Berkeley’s Campus Recycling and Refuse Services. 

Firefighters from Berkeley joined crews from Albany in battling the blaze, which destroyed the small frame structure known as Building 11, said Berkeley Fire Marshal and Assistant Fire Chief Gil Dong. 

The building was located near the corner of San Pablo and Marin avenues, said UC Berkeley spokesperson Sarah Yang, who said the 800-square-foot building contained offices housing eight program employees. 

The fire also damaged the roof of a nearby building and caused heat damage to the exteriors of three rooms. “It looks like we may have to replace the roof,” Yang said.  

“There were no injuries,” she said, adding that at most 3,000 square feet of building space had been put out of commission. 

In addition to units from Berkeley and Albany, Richmond and El Cerrito firefighters also assisted, and a second Berkeley company was dispatched to Albany to cover the city in the event of other emergencies. 

Berkeley firefighters were at the fire scene within moments of the time the fire was first reported at 3 a.m. and stayed until after it was fully controlled, leaving at 7:10, Dong said. 

None of the university housing in the Gill Tract was endangered by the blaze, and there were no injuries. 

Yang said the displaced workers are being relocated to space in Edwards Stadium until a permanent home can be found. 

Because the recycling program affects primarily the main campus, Yang said the City of Berkeley “is cooperating wonderfully in serving the campus until we can recover. There’s no interruption of service.”