Oakland fire crews extinguish RV blaze on San Leandro Street

No injuries reported as firefighters respond to incident near BART tracks

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:07am

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting depicting a massive cloud of thick, billowing smoke rising over a desolate urban scene, dwarfing any visible structures or vehicles and conveying the overwhelming, sublime scale of the natural disaster.A towering plume of smoke from a RV fire casts an ominous shadow over a quiet Oakland neighborhood, underscoring the growing challenges of addressing encampment blazes in the region.Oakland Today

The Oakland Fire Department responded to a blaze involving two RVs parked on San Leandro Street near the BART tracks on Wednesday evening. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, and no injuries were reported. Smoke may still be visible as crews work to clear debris from the scene.

Why it matters

RV fires are a growing concern in the Bay Area as the unhoused population continues to rise, often leading to dangerous blazes in encampments. This incident highlights the challenges Oakland's first responders face in quickly responding to and containing these types of fires to protect public safety.

The details

According to Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt, the department received calls about the blaze around 7:17 p.m. on Wednesday. Three engines and one fire truck were dispatched to the scene on San Leandro Street near the BART tracks, where they were able to put out the fire involving the two RVs. The Oakland Police Department also responded to the incident.

  • The fire was reported to the Oakland Fire Department around 7:17 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 2026.

The players

Oakland Fire Department

The municipal fire department responsible for providing fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Oakland, California.

Michael Hunt

A spokesperson for the Oakland Fire Department who provided details about the incident.

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What’s next

The Oakland Fire Department and Oakland Police Department will continue to investigate the cause of the RV fire.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges Oakland faces in addressing the rise of RV encampments and the fire risks they pose to public safety, requiring a coordinated response from first responders and city officials.