Firefighters responded to reports of a fire at 2480 Bancroft Way Thursday around 4:30 p.m.
The fire was reported as contained at 5:07 p.m. by Berkeley Fire Department spokesperson Gil Dong. There were no reported injuries and, according to Dong, it is hypothesized the fire was started in the middle of two buildings by improperly discarded smoking materials.
“We will not be able to determine an exact cause as fire investigators were not able to get down into the area of origin,” Dong said in an email. “The area between the two buildings is only 4 inches wide.”
Berkeley Police Department Sgt. Nicole Sanchez said the residents who lived above Ned’s Bookstore at 2480 Bancroft Way, along with Ned’s employees, were evacuated from their residence.
According to Dong, Berkeley Police Department officers assisted to divert traffic away from Bancroft Way and Telegraph Avenue. Dong said four fire engines, one fire truck, one ambulance and one duty chief were present at the scene.
Anjuli Sastry is an assistant news editor.
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Ah, so that’s why Bancroft was closed Thursday evening. Terrible timing, since Haste was also blocked due to Upscale Yuppie Food Truck Day.