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Berkeley Fire Displaces 30, Causes $100K Damages

Jeff Shuttleworth (BCN)
Wednesday April 27, 2016 - 04:48:00 PM

About 30 residents of an apartment building at the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Delaware Street in Berkeley remain displaced today following a one-alarm fire on Tuesday night that caused an estimated $100,000 worth of damage, a Berkeley fire spokeswoman said. 

The damage was caused by the fire and the subsequent rupture of a water pipe, according to Berkeley Fire Department Deputy Chief Donna McCracken. 

No one was injured by the blaze, which was reported at 6:48 p.m. on Tuesday and quickly contained, McCracken said. 

The building is a three-story structure with commercial businesses on the first floor and about 20 residential units on the upper two floors, according to McCracken. 

The damage occurred on the residential floors and the businesses on the first floor have been able to remain open, she said. 

The Red Cross is helping the displaced residents find alternative accommodations, McCracken said. 

It might be possible for residents to return to some of the units in a few days but it won't be possible for people to return to the most seriously damages units for "a while," she said. 

The cause of the fire hasn't yet been determined, according to McCracken.