OAKLAND — While the cause of an extremely smoky fire Saturday at a West Oakland recycling center still has not been determined, the company said Tuesday it is adding equipment to deal with water supply issues faced by firefighters.

The fire was reported just before 4 p.m. Saturday at the top of a large pile of recycled non-ferrous metals at Schnitzer Steel, 1101 Embarcadero West. Dark smoke from the fire traveled to East Oakland and into the San Francisco Bay.

A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)



A fire burns in a metal scrap pile at Schnitzer Steel along the Embarcadero near Adeline Street in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, June 2, 2018. Billowing black smoke could be seen for miles as Oakland firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze which began shortly before 4:00 p.m. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)

Although an official cause remains under investigation, officials said one possibility is that residual fluids on the materials might have ignited. The fire is also being investigated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District which had representatives on the scene Saturday but did not issue a shelter in place order.

Thirty-four Oakland firefighters responded to the scene and quickly began using aerial ladder hoses to send cascades of water onto the burning pile.

As part of their own protocol, Schnitzer Steel employees had started dousing the pile with a water cannon before firefighters arrived on the scene, officials said.

Because there were only two hydrants available, Oakland firefighters had to call in fire boats from Alameda and San Francisco for assistance and also had to lay more than 600 feet of hose lines to reach the blaze.

The Oakland fireboat has not in operation for more than a decade because of budget issues.

Our Water Tender is responding, per @OaklandFireLive’s request. — Alameda County Fire (@AlamedaCoFire) June 2, 2018

To help increase water supply and pressure, water tenders from the Alameda County and Moraga-Orinda fire departments also responded.

Oakland Batallion Fire Chief Nick Luby said the fire was declared under control about 6:50 p.m. Saturday. Although briefly threatened, no structures at the facility were damaged but some conveyor belts were, he said. There were no reported injuries.

Luby said the department was grateful for the mutual-aid assistance. “It was very helpful to have their response. We are very appreciative,” he said.

There have been several fires at the facility going back to 2010, almost all in piles of recycled materials.

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Richmond fire reported near homeless camp by I-580 Luby said the company is dealing proactively with the water issue which “is a challenge down there.” He said they are in the process of installing a 12-inch fire main on the property as well as adding additional hydrants.

Schnitzer spokesman Adam Simons said the company is in the final phases of the improvements which should be operational “in the imminent future.”

He said the fire was confined “to a small area with minimal exposure thanks in no small part to the coordinated efforts of the Oakland Fire Department and their partners.”