Warehouse Fire Causes $325,000 in Damages

Workers are cleaning up damage today from a two-alarm fire at the Recall recycling plant late Wednesday night that caused up to $325,000 in damages.

Alameda County Deputy Fire Chief David Rocha said the fire started about 11:15 p.m. inside the warehouse at 6730 Redecker Place.

No one was inside the building when the fire began and no injuries were reported, said Rocha.

According to Rocha, the fire started in a paper-shredding machine that is estimated to cost around $200,000.

“There was nothing suspicious about this fire,” he said. 

Rocha says Recall company officials are coordinating the fire investigation efforts because firefighters don't believe this is an arson.

“When the first unit arrived on scene, firefighters saw a large amount of smoke coming from building,” Rocha said. “The warehouse is in an industrial area and it takes care of paper recycling."

After firefighters on scene called for more help, seven engines, two fire trucks, a rescue unit and two battalion chiefs from Newark, Union City, San Leandro and Castro Valley responded.

“Once firefighters entered the building, they found cold smoke inside,” Rocha said, explaining there was no heat coming from the fire at that point. “It was difficult to find the fire with all the smoke and with the sprinklers going off.”

Firefighters had to cut a hole in the roof to let all the smoke out, says Rocha.

The fire caused up to $325,000 in smoke and water damage to the building as well as the paper-shredding machine.