Tuesday Fire at Oakland Construction Site is Latest in Spate of Suspected Arson Attacks

A fire that erupted early Tuesday at the construction site of a townhouse complex was the fifth housing construction site fire in the Oakland and Emeryville area in the past two years. Fire officials are conducting an arson investigation. Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf urged the public to report any information saying, “An attack on new housing in Oakland is an attack on keeping families housed in Oakland.” A group of developers suggested that the fires may be a political act against gentrification have offered a $300,000 reward to help catch the “urban terrorist.”