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Police investigating fire at Claremont Middle School in Rockridge
Police are investigating a fire that caused major damage to the cafeteria of an Oakland middle school this morning as arson.
The two-alarm fire at Claremont Middle School at 5750 College Ave., near the Rockridge BART Station, was reported at 1:49 a.m., fire officials said.
The first units on the scene came from the fire station next to the school.
A second alarm was called at about 2:20 a.m. and firefighters had extinguished the fire at about 3:10 a.m.
Fire crews contained the fire to the school cafeteria. The fire caused an estimated $1 million in damage, Battalion Chief Geoff Hunter said.
Hunter said crews found an exterior door open at the school, which he said is unusual.
Police said this morning that an arson investigator responded to look into the possibility the fire was intentionally set. Police have no suspects so far.
Neither firefighters nor civilians were injured in the blaze.
