Update: February 4, 2026
Building Access: The building at 1770 Broadway has been declared unsafe and uninhabitable. No one is currently allowed entry until structural work is performed to make the building safe. At this time, we do not know when entry will be allowed. Please see the Housing Navigation section below to get help replacing identification, medication, etc.
Legal Aid: Tenants displaced by the fire should consult with a lawyer before signing legal documents relating to the fire.
Low-income tenants may be eligible for free legal assistance. Contact Centro Legal de la Raza at (510) 437-1554 or tenantsrights@centrolegal.org, or contact East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC) at (510) 548-4040.
Housing Navigation: The City is partnering with Bay Area Community Services (BACS) to provide housing navigation, security deposit assistance, and other support.
For program enrollment contact BACS at: keepoaklandhoused@bayareacs.org or (510) 899-9289. Call or text and tell them you have been displaced by the fire at 1770 Broadway.
Also, you may qualify for an affordable rental home under Oakland’s Preference Policy. To learn more, contact Twima Earley at Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department: tearley@oaklandca.gov or (510) 238-6811.
Brief Stay in a Short-Term Rental: Airbnb.org is offering free stays of approximately fourteen days for tenants displaced by the fire. Credit cards are not required to register. If you have not been contacted by 211 Alameda County to register, contact Bay Area Community Services (BACS) to get help with registration; (see the Housing Navigation section above). If you are already registered and need help using the credits, call Airbnb Customer Service at (650) 249-3243.
Relocation Funds: Tenants may be entitled to receive relocation payments from the property owner. Oakland’s Housing and Community Development Department can provide information about the Code Compliance Relocation Program. Contact the program by calling (510) 238-6182 or emailing ccrp@oaklandca.gov.
Right to Return: Tenants generally have a right to move back into their units once the property has been rehabilitated. Provide contact information to your landlord and consult with a lawyer to exercise this right.
Update: January 22, 2026
Local Assistance Center: The City will open a Local Assistance Center on Friday, January 23 at 150 Frank Ogawa Center to provide resources and connect residents with housing and other support. The Local Assistance Center will be open from 9am to 7pm.
Building Access: Residents who need to access their units to retrieve necessary belongings should contact the property manager.
Temporary Shelter: The temporary shelter established at Willie Keyes Recreation Center will close on Saturday, January 23.
Update: January 20, 2026
Oakland Fire Department, Planning & Building Department and the City Attorney's Office were onsite to assist affected residents and businesses. Tenants were able to access 14 units in the building.
Building Access: The City is working to escort displaced residents who need to access their units to retrieve necessary belongings. The City will provide access on Wednesday, January 21, from 11:30am to 1:30pm.
Transportation Support: The Human Services Department’s Oakland Paratransit for the Elderly and Disabled (OPED) program can assist impacted individuals who need transportation support. Residents can call OPED at (510) 238-3036 for more information.
Local Assistance Center: The City plans to open a Local Assistance Center on Friday, January 23 at 150 Frank Ogawa Center to provide resources and connect residents with housing and other support. More details coming soon.
Update: January 19, 2026
Statement from Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee:
“This morning, a three-alarm fire displaced numerous Oakland residents from their homes. Thanks to our Oakland Fire Department, residents were evacuated and the fire was put under control efficiently.
When Oaklanders face hardship, we step up.
Here's what we're doing right now:
Residents have been transported to a temporary shelter where City staff will be working around the clock supporting them. We're coordinating with the Red Cross and our partners to meet immediate needs like clothing and supplies.
We will be working to connect residents with legal resources like Centro Legal so they know their rights.
Tenants seeking to apply for free legal services should contact Centro Legal via phone at (510) 437-1554 or via email at tenantsrights@centrolegal.org.
We take care of our own. We're going to keep working with our community partners to make sure these residents are not left behind.”
Fire Incident: On Monday, January 19, 2026, just after 7 AM, the Oakland Fire Department responded to a structure fire inside a multi-story building in the 1700 block of Broadway in downtown Oakland.
Once on scene, first alarm units were able rescue multiple neighbors from upper floor units, while evacuating occupants from the other 40+ occupied building units. There were approximately 3-5 patients treated on scene with some being transported to local hospitals due to smoke inhalation. The Oakland Police Dept supported fire operations by efficiently closing Broadway between 17th Street and 20th Street. Within 90 minutes, the Fire Department had extinguished the fire, conducted all necessary searches and placed the incident Under Control (at 8:40am). More than 60 Oakland Firefighters responded to this 3 Alarm incident, and the City of Alameda provided “cover-in” support at select downtown stations while those OFD crews responded to the fire.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. Following the major fire activity, the building was red tagged. BART operations downtown were not impacted by this incident, however AC Transit lines used detour routes to travel through downtown between 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Oakland Fire continued “Fire Watch” activities until 6 PM to ensure there would be a rapid response for any rekindle in the building.
Shelter: A temporary shelter has been established at Willie Keyes Recreation Center at 3131 Union Street to support building residents. As of Monday evening 17 people were staying in this shelter; capacity is available for as many as 75 people. The shelter will be staffed 24 hours a day until further notice. Residents displaced by this incident may visit this location to be registered for available resources.