Police station evacuated after fire; Berkeley 911 calls rerouted
Update: As of 10:07 p.m., the Berkeley dispatch center had resumed normal operations.
A fire at the Berkeley Police Department prompted an evacuation Wednesday evening, with emergency calls being routed to Alameda County.
Shortly before 5:30 p.m., officers reported smoke and "water flooding the building" as personnel evacuated.
Authorities said the fire was small and began in an office, activating building sprinklers.
"All emergency 911 calls are being transferred to Alameda County Dispatch to dispatch emergency calls," police said in a Nixle alert at 5:28 p.m.
Officers will continue to respond to emergency calls, police said.
Attempts to shut down the sprinklers were hampered because the controls were reportedly secured with a padlock and chain.
Firefighters outside the Berkeley police station at 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Way and Center Street. Ariel Nava Photo
Update, 10:15 p.m. The Berkeley dispatch center has resumed normal operations, BPD reported in a Nixle alert.
