Large Oakland Fire Shuts Down BART Service Between SF and East Bay
Commuters faced clogged traffic and long lines this morning after a fire in West Oakland halted BART service between San Francisco and the East Bay, with reopening times estimated for this afternoon.
Crews will have to replace a section of the third rail somewhere between 350 and 400 feet long at the West Oakland station, BART spokesman Jim Allison said. Thirty to 40 insulators holding up the rail were damaged in the fire, he added.
BART is testing a 34,000-volt cable that powers part of the station to ensure there are no shorts when power is restored, Allison said. Finally, PG&E will have to remove two power poles that are currently in danger of toppling onto the track, he said.
The station suffered the damage during a structure fire nearby that broke out shortly after 2 a.m. As of 8 a.m., a broken underground gas line remained a hazard in the area, with flames continuing to shoot up from it.
Fire crews were waiting on PG&E to tear up the surrounding concrete to access the gas line, fire Battalion Chief Lisa Baker said.