Oakland

BART reports system-wide delays due to fire in electrical room; 300 people evacuated

Oakland firefighters extinguished a blaze in a BART electrical room after large portions of the transit service lost power Saturday night. About 300 passengers were evacuated, the fire department said.

"We really don't have any idea when we will be resuming service at this point, so it's very important that riders be seeking alternative means of transportation throughout the evening," BART spokesperson Cheryl Stalter said.

An equipment problem cut power between 19th Street/Oakland and Fruitvale, BART said. Those stations were closed, along with stations at 12th Street/Oakland City Center and Lake Merritt.

There was also no Green Line service between Berryessa and Daly City, and no Red Line service between Richmond and Millbrae, BART said.

"A fire was located and extinguished in an electrical room," Oakland Fire Department spokesman Michael Hunt said.

The fire department guided about 300 people off trains and platforms, he said. There were no reports of injuries.

Trains were turning back at Ashby, Rockridge, West Oakland and Coliseum stations, BART said.

BART advised riders to consider alternate means of transportation.

Travelers may use the BART Trip Planner at bart.gov/alternatives or the BART app to find transit alternatives based on their location by deselecting BART in "transit options."

A bus bridge operated by AC Transit was set up between West Oakland and MacArthur and between West Oakland, Fruitvale and Coliseum stations, BART said.

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