OAKLAND — Three firefighters were injured in a crash Saturday after their ladder engine rammed into an apartment complex, prompting authorities to evacuate the building and shut down part of Grand Avenue near Lake Merritt for much of the afternoon.
At about 12:40 p.m., the firetruck veered off the road to avoid a car that was making a left turn onto Grand Avenue from Perkins Street. The engine crashed into the front entrance of the apartment building at 353 Grand Avenue, the site of a closed business on the ground floor that was in the process of being renovated.
Shortly after 4:30 p.m., fire crews removed the engine with a tow truck and prepared to reopen the street.
The engine had been on its way to respond to a structure fire at Warfield Avenue about a mile away. Three firefighters suffered “moderate injuries” and are being treated at Highland Hospital, Oakland Fire spokesman Michael Hunt said in an interview.
The collision ruptured the building’s water main and flooded the basement, leading authorities to shut down water and power at the complex.
Residents of the apartment complex were escorted out through the building’s side entrance and guided to American Red Cross responders who helped them find somewhere to stay while the building is closed.
An employee of a nearby Chevron gas station said one of the firefighters injured in the crash is a regular customer who lives nearby. The employee said he saw the firefighter bleeding from the face as he evacuated the fire engine.
The truck remained lodged into the building for several hours after the crash and Grand Avenue between Perkins Street and Staten Avenue were closed. Numerous passersby stood and watched, taking photos and videos of the scene.
Fire officials have begun assessing the building’s entrance to ensure the engine can be safely removed, said Battalion Chief Christopher Landry. He added that the firetruck will likely not be placed back into service after the collision.
Oakland police are investigating the crash and looking for possible camera footage. The car that had driven into the intersection and caused the engine to veer off the road left the scene soon after the crash, Landry said, adding that the engine had its sirens on and lights flashing.
@OaklandFireCA batallón chief Christopher Landry provides details on a fire truck that ended up on a residential building at the corner of Grand Avenue and Perkins Street while en route to a structure fire. 3 firefighters suffered moderate injuries see more @EastBayTimes pic.twitter.com/rGWun1xYkp
— Ray Chavez (@rayinaction) February 26, 2022
This story will be updated. Staff photographer Ray Chavez contributed reporting.
