Commuters wait for buses this morning in Berkeley after BART was shut down in the wake of a fire in Oakland. Photo: Sandy Friedland

BART expects to resume full Transbay service by 4:00pm today following a shutdown of services between the East Bay and San Francisco caused by a three-alarm fire at a construction site near West Oakland BART early this morning.

BART had initially planned to begin single-tracking trains between San Francisco and Oakland early this afternoon and then reopen both tracks for the evening commute according to a Bay City News report, but changed tack when they realized it would be easier to get both tracks open for the evening commute if they kept both closed for longer.

The fire was reported at 2:18 a.m. at a site at Fifth Street and Mandela Parkway, next to the BART station. The blaze spread to the elevated BART tracks, prompting the shutdown.

Oakland fire Battalion Chief Lisa Baker said “suspicious people” had been reported in the area around the time the fire started. Investigators are asking anyone with information on the blaze to call (510) 238-4031.

Visit BART online for updates on services, as well as @SFBART on Twitter.

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