Port of Oakland Lithium Battery Fire Sent Plumes of Black Smoke Over the Bay Sunday

A black smoke cloud spread over the San Francisco Bay on the Sunday afternoon of Mother’s Day, as a reported lithium battery fire broke out at the Port of Oakland.

East Bay residents, motorists crossing the Bay Bridge, and even people attending the Giants-Reds game on the Sunday afternoon of Mother’s Day may have been startled by the unusual sight of what looked like the Black Smoke Monster from the old TV show Lost.

KPIX reports the fire was actually at the Port of Oakland, and according to KRON4, the fire burned for about 90 minutes Sunday afternoon.

"The fire was in a lithium battery at the port, on Seventh Street," Oakland Fire Department spokesperson Michael Hunt said in a statement to KPIX.

The fire was first reported at about 3 pm Sunday afternoon, and was reportedly fully extinguished by 4:30 pm.

According to the Chronicle, “The cause of the fire remained under investigation and it was unclear whether anyone was injured.”

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Image:@jpirruccello via Twitter