Traffic halted as Oakland firefighters put out blaze at homeless camp

Traffic was a mess Monday morning as Oakland firefighters responded to a second-alarm fire at a well known homeless encampment that regularly erupts in flames. Tom Vacar reports

OAKLAND, Calif. - Traffic was a mess Monday morning as Oakland firefighters responded to a second-alarm fire at a well known homeless encampment that regularly erupts in flames

Smoke was seen billowing from the freeway near the blaze at 34th and Wood streets, which sparked around 10:30 a.m.

The smoke and flames approached the underside of the BART tracks and several RVs camped below caught fire.

The Oakland Fire Department said the fire was contained within two hours and under control by 1:30 p.m.

Officials said 65 firefighters were called to the scene to battle the blaze.

Caltrans engineers will have to inspect the train trestles to determine if they are safe to use.

The California Highway Patrol said that Interstate 80 westbound to Interstate Highway 880 southbound was closed. And I-80 to Interstate Highway 580 was closed in the eastbound direction.

Cars were backed up all across the East Bay freeways before noon.