Fire at high-rise apartment in Oakland causes evacuations

The fire erupted around 11:30 a.m. on a fourth-floor apartment unit of a 12-story building in the 1000 block of 7th Street.

Firefighters controlled a fire at a high-rise apartment building in West Oakland that caused evacuations on Monday, authorities said.

The fire erupted around 11:30 a.m. on a fifth-floor apartment unit of a 12-story building in the 1000 block of 7th Street. Fire crews originally said it was the fourth floor.

Firefighters entered the building to battle the blaze inside the apartment and knocked it down within 15 minutes of arriving, authorities said.

One woman in the building suffered minor burns, authorities said. She went to a hospital on her own for treatment.

Some residents were evacuated from the building.

Firefighters also brought out a cat alive from inside the building and administered oxygen to the animal.

The cause of the fire appears to be accidental and is associated with a Christmas tree, Oakland Fire spokesman Michael Hunt said.

Officials estimated $100,000 in damages, mostly from smoke inside and outside the building.

Police closed 7th Street in both directions while firefighters were on the scene.