Surveillance footage captured Peter Taraba jumping a fence and throwing rocks at the windows an hour before the fire, then carrying something toward the building and walking away empty-handed, police say.

The incident was captured on high-definition security cameras run by the city, police wrote in charging papers.

There were 42 animals in the shelter at the time of the fire. None were hurt. They have since been relocated pending repairs, which are expected to be done in July.

On Tuesday, the Alameda County district attorney's office charged Taraba with felony arson from the June 6 fire as well as burglary (alleging he entered the building to commit a felony) and misdemeanor vandalism, according to court papers.

The vandalism case stemmed from a June 5 incident where police say Taraba punctured a man's bike tire, which prompted officers to take his dog to the shelter after Taraba was arrested.

Dog seizure preceded Berkeley Animal Shelter fire

After the fire, police say arson suspect Peter Taraba flooded the shelter and then flooded the toilet in his Berkeley jail cell.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Taraba has no criminal convictions in Alameda County but he does have an open misdemeanor case from March, according to court records.

In that incident, March 16 at about 10:20 p.m., police said, he caused a disturbance at a Berkeley homeless shelter, refusing to leave "despite being asked … multiple times."

According to police, Taraba slapped two shelter workers in the face "before he was successfully escorted outside" the Hope Center, at 2012 Berkeley Way.

That night, police ticketed Taraba on suspicion of trespassing and battery and sent him for a psychiatric evaluation, according to charging papers.

He was later charged with misdemeanor battery, court records show.

Police say Taraba, who is 48, is homeless.

A former housemate, speaking on condition of anonymity when reached by The Scanner, said Taraba had been "kind of a hothead" when they lived in the same house north of campus with several other men for perhaps six months in 2024.

That included ongoing arguments with one of their housemates, which erupted into a scuffle after Taraba began putting trash outside his door.

But Taraba had also taken particular care of a housemate's dog, spending time with it and taking it on long walks.

He went on trips with some of the roommates, but also seemed to be struggling to hold it together.

The housemate described Taraba as "a pretty well-meaning guy" with some eccentricities, including a "bad reaction to things not going his way."

He said Taraba had been hunting for work in 2024, often coming home with grievances about his new employers. The jobs never lasted long.

At one point, Taraba began decorating their front yard "in strange ways," hanging a lantern from a tree, spray-painting a chair with the Slovakian flag, putting Halloween stickers on the mailbox.

Taraba left the house, north of campus, after a falling out with the landlord, the former housemate said.

"I just came back from vacation and he was gone, and there were all these stories about what happened," he said.

After Taraba left, they found drug test strips in his room.

The former housemate said it may have been Taraba's last permanent address, an assertion supported by court papers.

"I was kinda hoping he would get it together," he said.

Taraba appears to have published several academic papers in the early 2000s.

Websites online link him to UC Berkeley and identify him as a researcher in Oakland with a background in math, physics and computer science.

This week, UC Berkeley said it had no records linking him to campus at any point as a student or faculty member.

Peter Taraba. BPD

Taraba maintains an active LinkedIn page and recently launched a Medium site.

One recent Medium post appears to be simply a bank statement of Taraba's spending around Oakland. Others reference Donald Trump and AI in the headlines but are mostly photographs.

Comments on Medium that appear to be posted by Taraba link to his research papers.

As of this week, Taraba remains in custody with a bail of $25,000, according to booking records. He is scheduled to enter a plea Thursday.

Read complete coverage of the animal shelter fire.

"Absent any unforeseen process delays," the city said in the latest update, the shelter, "anticipates being back open to the public and resuming normal operations by July 6, though some repairs of the building will most likely still be underway at that time."

The shelter has been closed since June 7 following a suspicious fire the night before. This week, the DA's office filed criminal charges against the man police say started it.

Berkeley fire officials ultimately deemed the building unfit for public use due to the "toxicity of ambient smoke and burned debris" inside.

"Remediation assessments and cleaning efforts," through a professional property restoration company, have been underway for more than a week, the city said.

For now, financial donations are the best way to help the shelter recover, supporters say.

During repairs, the shelter is closed for animal intakes and field services, aside from police cases and bite quarantine holds, according to the latest update.

"Members of the public are advised NOT to take stray animals into their care unless they are prepared to provide care or placement for those animals themselves," the city said. "We also do not recommend bringing animals to other jurisdictions' shelters without calling them first to confirm space and capacity."

Last week, Berkeley Animal Care Services (BACS) — the city department that runs the shelter — worked with Berkeley Humane, East Bay SPCA and Animal Fix Clinic to move all the shelter animals elsewhere during the remediation work related to the fire.

"As soon as I heard about it, I called our partners over there," said Jeffrey Zerwekh, executive director Berkeley Humane. "I got in the car and drove over there to see for myself."

Berkeley Humane — the Berkeley-East Bay Humane Society — and the Berkeley Animal Shelter, the city's municipal shelter, are located about a mile apart in West Berkeley.

A lot of people confuse the two organizations, said Zerwekh.

"I'm getting lots of calls," he said last week. "People think that I had a fire."

When he got to the shelter, Zerwekh said it was clear that there was a fair amount of damage even though the fire had been contained to the lobby. The building was without power. Key systems were down.

"You could smell the smoke through the whole building," he said.

The day before had been California Adopt-a-Pet Day, and Berkeley Humane had 53 adoptions. That freed up space with fosters to take 14 cats from BACS: six kittens and eight adults, including a bonded pair.

(Berkeley Humane can always use more fosters, he added.)

With the power down, BACS couldn't access its database to provide medical background and history for its animals, so staffers found a workaround: going home and connecting remotely through a VPN, then painstakingly taking screenshots of each record to share with Berkeley Humane and the other partners who took in shelter animals.

That information is critical for adoptions, said Zerwekh.

Berkeley Humane then sprung into action, making calls to find the right foster home for each cat, pulling together all the supplies they might need.

It's "matchmaking," Zerwekh said.

"Our team was on it," he added. "People step up when asked, which is incredible."

Berkeley Humane had its own fire in 2010. It started in the laundry room when a dryer malfunctioned overnight. Fifteen cats died.

"When I started at Berkeley Humane, I could still go into the old, boarded up portion and smell the fire," said Zerwekh. "It had been 10 years."

Last week, he could smell the smoke in the fur of the shelter cats as his team worked to find homes for them.

"It means a lot to us to be able to help our partner," he said.

Zerwekh said the two organizations share donors and volunteers, and perhaps even have staff members who have worked at both places.

"If I have a need in the future, I know that BACS will respond," he said.

Zerwekh said he had loved seeing the strong community support since the fire for the shelter animals — and also wanted to highlight the 70 other animals Berkeley Humane has up for adoption.

"The BACS cats are very, very important," he said. "And they're just a handful of who we're currently caring for."

With a project underway to build a new home for Berkeley Humane, its adoptions happen outside its two thrift stores each weekend. And there will soon be a "catio" inside Pet Food Express on Telegraph Avenue where animals will be available.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire, another group also pitched in to help.

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services (FoBACS) raised nearly $10,000 in just two days and solicited supply donations from supporters. The fundraising continues.

All the money the volunteer group raises goes right to the city, which decides how it can be used best, said Daro Quiring, FoBACS treasurer and longtime shelter volunteer.

(As of this week, the city has not said how much repairs are expected to cost.)

Quiring and his wife, Bonnie, also helped in another way, fostering the animal shelter's two office cats, a bonded pair named Royal and JuJee.

They were the last two animals to go.

Quiring said Kris Swanson, who handles fosters and rescues at BACS, had called to ask if he and his wife were willing to take the pair.

It was Swanson, Quiring said, who worked the phones for hours after the fire to find out where the shelter's more than 40 animals could go.

"All of the staff are really compassionate, dedicated, hardworking people who have the interest of the animals at heart," he said.

The camp and counselor were not affiliated with Cal, campus officials have said. To date, they have declined to release the camp's name.

On Tuesday morning, the Alameda County district attorney's office charged Quaylin Wesley, a 27-year-old Oakland man, with eight felonies: six counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 and two counts of burglary (alleging he entered the child's dorm room intending to commit sex crimes).

The victim was an 11-year-old girl who was sleeping in a UC Berkeley dormitory when the incidents happened, the University of California Police Department wrote in court papers.

According to charging papers, Wesley — an "overnight counselor" — initially went into the girl's room and fondled her while she pretended to sleep.

"She was fearful of what the suspect would do if he knew she was awake," police wrote.

At first, Wesley left the room when the girl's roommate rolled over in her bed, which was across from the victim's bed, according to police.

But he came back, according to charging papers, and attempted to sexually assault her three times, police wrote.

At that point, at about 2 a.m., the girl tried to wake her roommate, then ran to the bathroom, alerting a camp counselor and another camper about what had happened, according to charging papers.

"Three camp counselors evacuated the children to a nearby room and placed an object in front of the door" to stop Wesley from going inside, police wrote. "A camp counselor then contacted UCPD and notified them of the incident."

Wesley left the area before officers arrived, police wrote, but they arrested him Saturday afternoon.

He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday morning at Wiley Manuel Courthouse in Oakland. No bail amount is listed in booking records.

Wesley has no other criminal cases listed in Alameda County Superior Court.

The Scanner has requested a booking photograph and will update this story if it is released.

On Tuesday morning, UC Berkeley shared a brief update on the case.

"This case does not involve any UC Berkeley-operated programs. It does not involve any Cal Athletics programs," the university said. "During the summer, when many UC Berkeley enrolled students are away, the university allows third-party clients to lease our campus housing and facilities for their conferences, events, and programs."

UC Berkeley said it would not release the name or location of the camp "because the matter involves a minor who is a sexual assault victim, in order to protect their identity, and because this is an ongoing police matter."

The statement continued: "The third-party program that was involved has concluded its program at UC Berkeley."

No additional details were available.

UCPD has asked anyone with information about this crime or "similar incidents" to call the department at 510-642-6760.

The woman, estimated to be 19 years old, was shot in the face, according to early reports.

Berkeley police and firefighters responded quickly to the area.

BFD took the woman to Highland Hospital "Code 3," with lights and sirens, for treatment.

Limited details were available as of publication time.

The shooting was initially reported at Adeline Street and Ashby Avenue at 11:13 p.m., according to public records.

The Scanner will update this story as new information is shared.

Update, 12:10 a.m. Police have closed Ashby Avenue from Martin Luther King Jr. Way to Shattuck Avenue, and northbound MLK from Prince Street to Ashby, reports photographer Ariel Nava, who responded to the scene for The Scanner.

Nava said there were a half-dozen or so evidence markers outside The Ashby Stage, at 1901 Ashby Ave., and police were using flashlights to search for evidence in the street.

In 2026, Berkeley and UC Berkeley police have now investigated two injury shootings and six non-injury shootings.

Last year, Berkeley had no injury shootings aside from a non-fatal police shooting.

Update, 12:30 a.m. Police are closely inspecting a silver sedan parked on Shattuck Avenue north of Ashby Avenue, which is also taped off, Nava said.

Officers were on the ground examining the area, where they had placed about a dozen evidence markers.

Share tips and photos with The Scanner.

A homeless man who used anti-Black slurs and threatened children at a Berkeley school playground Saturday has been arrested, police report.

The incident happened at Malcolm X Elementary in South Berkeley at about 8:30 p.m., Berkeley police said in response to a Scanner inquiry.

According to police, the man walked up to a group of children playing and directed racial slurs at them through the fence before making threats of violence.

He "repeatedly shouted the slurs and threatened the children," officials said.

David Celio. BPD

Police found 38-year-old David Celio nearby and arrested him just before 9:15 p.m., according to booking records.

He was arrested on suspicion of a hate crime and child abuse, both misdemeanors, booking records show.

Celio has no charged criminal cases in Alameda County but he was arrested by UC Berkeley police on a warrant in May, public records show, in addition to several other arrests since 2025.

He is being held at Berkeley Jail on $10,000 bail and is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday, according to booking records.

As of March, Berkeley had received at least 16 hate crime reports this year, with anti-Black hate crimes making up the largest percentage, at 29%, followed by homophobic hate crimes, at 18%.

The University of California Police Department identified the suspect as Quaylin Wesley, a 27-year-old Vallejo man.

UCPD was initially notified between 1:15 and 2 a.m. about an attempted sexual assault that had taken place in a UC Berkeley residence hall, authorities reported in a WarnMe notice Saturday morning.

"UCPD provided immediate safety and support services to those involved," officials wrote. "Detectives are actively investigating and pursuing leads."

Just before 5 p.m., authorities sent a second WarnMe announcing Wesley's arrest.

"Through subsequent investigation, UCPD determined that the incident was a completed sexual assault, rather than an attempted one," authorities said in the second WarnMe.

Sources later told The Scanner that the victim was an 11-year-old child who had been sodomized by a camp staffer.

No information about the camp or residence hall location was immediately available.

Wesley was arrested just after 2:20 p.m. on suspicion of sodomizing a child under 18, lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under 14, and burglary, according to booking records.

He is being held on $425,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail. He is scheduled for arraignment Wednesday.

UCPD asks anyone with information about this crime or "similar incidents" to call the department at 510-642-6760.

Update, 11:20 p.m. Pending further research, The Scanner removed biographical information, taken from Wesley's LinkedIn profile, after his listed employer, an Oakland charter school, said he does not work there.

Wesley describes himself on the page as a "Youth Educator and Sports Enthusiast."

According to his profile, Wesley has worked as a substitute teacher and PE teacher in Oakland, but it was unknown as of publication time whether his listed affiliations were accurate.

Update, June 14, 2:45 p.m. On Sunday, a UC Berkeley spokeswoman said the summer camp was not run by Cal and that more information about it may be available Monday.

The camp's name has not been released.

Wesley is not currently affiliated with UC Berkeley but he did graduate from Cal in 2021 with a bachelor's degree, the university confirmed.

Wesley's most recent job, according to his LinkedIn page, was as a PE teacher at Francophone Charter School of Oakland, beginning in August 2025.

On Saturday night, the school's executive director, Claudia Lee, said Wesley does not work there. Lee provided no other information.

Wesley was listed as a Francophone Charter School staff member in the Upper School for the 2025-26 school year, according to a prior version of its website.

"He is in love with sports and enjoys working with kids," his staff bio read. "His primary sport is basketball but he also has expertise in football and track & field. Quaylin went to McClymonds High School in West Oakland and then went on to graduate from UC Berkeley with a degree in Social Welfare. He looks forward to working with everyone this upcoming year!"

His bio is no longer on the roster.

According to its website, Wesley is a current board member, serving as secretary, for the Catalyst Youth Network, which provides leadership experience and job training for Oakland youth.

Scroll down for an update to the story.

He also worked as a part-time youth basketball trainer with Triple Threat Academy from 2021-22 and 2024-25, according to his LinkedIn page and Triple Threat.

On Sunday, the organization said Wesley had not worked there since August 2025 and that there had been no contact with him since then.

Wesley previously held several jobs with the Oakland Unified School District, from 2022 through 2024, according to Transparent California and his LinkedIn page, including as a substitute teacher at Sankofa United and Martin Luther King Jr. elementary schools.

Update, 10:50 p.m. Catalyst Youth Network has advised The Scanner that Wesley is not an active board member despite being identified as board secretary until today on the nonprofit's website.

Executive Director Robert Rickett said the site had not been updated due to limited staffing. It has now been fixed.

"I am deeply disturbed by the allegations reported," Rickett said. "Any alleged harm against a minor is heartbreaking and must be taken with the utmost seriousness."

According to Rickett, Wesley had not had an "active role" with Catalyst or attended a board meeting since December 2023.

"He never worked with or mentored any of our students directly," Rickett said. "I haven’t talked to Quaylin for about 2 years. He hasn’t returned any emails or texts for that time."

The Scanner will continue to seek information.

Berkeley police initially arrested Peter Taraba last week Friday, June 5, on suspicion of vandalism, BPD said in response to a Scanner inquiry.

That day, police responded to downtown Berkeley at about 6:15 p.m. after Taraba punctured the tire of someone's bicycle in the 1900 block of Shattuck Avenue, according to police and public records.

The victim identified Taraba and police arrested him, taking his dog to the Berkeley Animal Shelter, BPD said.

Police have not released a motive for the shelter fire, but it took place the following night.

Several days later, on Wednesday at about 11:30 p.m., police say Taraba jumped the fence at the shelter and accessed the outdoor dog room.

According to BPD, that's where he opened an external water faucet, flooding the dog room as well as the first-floor building interior.

The city had already relocated all the shelter animals, after it became clear the building would need to stay closed for an extended length of time.

Police arrested Taraba on Thursday morning on suspicion of the animal shelter fire and said they were also looking into him in relation to the flood.

Friday afternoon, police confirmed that they had linked Taraba to the flood, through video surveillance footage, after The Scanner inquired about a new burglary case listed in Taraba's booking record.

This week, police removed Taraba from Berkeley Jail and took him to Santa Rita Jail in Dublin after he flooded the toilet in his Berkeley cell, authorities said.

Taraba, 48, is now being held at Santa Rita Jail with a combined bail of $720,000. He is set for arraignment in both cases Monday.

Police identified Taraba as homeless but websites online link him to UC Berkeley and identify him as a researcher in Oakland with a background in math, physics and computer science. His listed publications appear to be decades old.

Taraba's only charged case in Alameda County is a misdemeanor battery case from March, according to court records.

Read complete coverage of the animal shelter fire.

Gardeners found the body while working at the West Circle, a passer-by told The Scanner, not far from Weill Hall and the eucalyptus grove, on one of the main campus pathways.

The University of California Police Department responded to the scene. The time of discovery was not immediately available.

The Berkeley Fire Department also responded, just after 10:30 a.m., according to radio dispatches reviewed by The Scanner.

Authorities had to cut a hole in the bushes to remove the body, which appeared to have been there for some time.

The individual appeared to be male but no official details were immediately available.

As of publication time, the coroner's office had not arrived.

In April, a deceased man was found on campus closer to Telegraph Avenue.

The Scanner is seeking additional information.

Update, 12:25 p.m. The Alameda County coroner's office is removing the body from UC Berkeley.

Police arrested Peter Taraba, 48, Thursday morning on suspicion of more than 40 counts of animal cruelty: one for each animal in the shelter at the time of the fire, BPD said in response to a Scanner inquiry.

Authorities are also looking into whether Taraba had something to do with flooding in the building last night, said Officer Byron White, BPD spokesman.

Police and firefighters initially responded to the animal shelter Saturday night after the burglar alarm and sprinkler system went off.

The fire, in the first-floor donation collection area, was confined to the building stairwell, but there was also significant smoke damage, authorities said.

According to Berkeley police, surveillance footage showed a man use a rock to break a window Saturday night and then ignite the fire with "an improvised incendiary device."

Police said they identified Taraba, a local homeless man, after he returned to the area at some point after the fire.

No animals were hurt in the blaze but the fire has closed the shelter for an indeterminate amount of time.

Peter Taraba. BPD

In addition to the fire, police say someone "jumped the fence" and opened a faucet outside the shelter, sometime between 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday morning, flooding the inside of the building.

Police arrested Taraba in downtown Berkeley shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday.

He was arrested on suspicion of arson and animal cruelty, police said.

Taraba is now being held on $670,000 bail at Santa Rita Jail and is scheduled for arraignment Monday.

Stay tuned for updates.

A woman who lived with him also caught leptospirosis — but has since recovered "after a lengthy hospitalization," the city said Wednesday in a new public health update.

"These are the first human cases of Leptospirosis in Berkeley in more than a decade," the city wrote.

The Scanner began asking officials about the fatality in mid-May after hearing about it from a municipal worker who was not authorized to speak to the media.

On Wednesday, the city described the man's death as "an extreme situation" and said the couple had been living about 1 mile from the Harrison Street encampment, at Fifth and Virginia streets, when they got sick.

"Both individuals lived together in a recreational vehicle in which they had been trapping, feeding and breeding wild rats," the city said. "In addition, the vehicle was severely infested with wild rats that were not in cages."

The couple "did not seek medical care for weeks and possibly months" after getting sick, the city wrote.

Berkeley police were initially dispatched to their RV on May 5 at 10:45 p.m. to help the Berkeley Fire Department with a medical call, the city told The Scanner.

When first responders arrived, the couple, a man and woman in their 70s, said they had at least 100 rats living inside the RV.

"The couple said they did not know how to address the situation," the city said this week.

BFD took the couple to the hospital and police submitted a report to Alameda County Adult Protective Services.

City workers and Alameda County Vector Control then put rodent traps in and around the RV.

They "kept the vehicle sealed, opening it only for vector control to remove traps with dead rats. After repeating this process over several days to ensure that no more rats were inside, the vehicle was towed and destroyed," the city said.

In the end, nearly 200 rats were removed from the RV before it was destroyed, the city said.

In its update Wednesday, which the city manager sent to Berkeley City Council members, the city said the couple had "delayed access to medical care which is thought to have contributed to the severity of their disease."

The most common way for leptospirosis to spread is through rat urine in standing water. Those who live in "close proximity to rats" are the most at risk.

"These human cases highlight the potentially serious health risk to humans living in environments with rat infestations," the city wrote. "For the general public and the vast majority of Berkeley residents and business owners, the risk of contracting leptospirosis remains extremely low."

In addition to the two human cases, the city said two dogs had also tested positive for leptospirosis, or "lepto," since November.

Deadly bacteria outbreak at Berkeley homeless camp

“Cleanup will take at least 30 days” because that’s how long leptospirosis can live in soil, the city said, calling it an “urgent public health concern.”

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

Leptospirosis in Berkeley: The background

In January, after dogs and rats in the Harrison Street corridor tested positive for leptospirosis, the city began warning the public about it.

The bacterial disease can be fatal in dogs and humans.

"Cases among people are extremely rare," the city emphasized this week.

After the positive tests, the city set up a buffer zone — bounded by San Pablo Avenue, Gilman Street, Codornices Creek and the railroad tracks in northwest Berkeley — and urged homeless individuals to move outside the zone to allow for effective "rodent eradication."

They also told people to avoid touching Codornices Creek and "walking or biking through standing water" in the area.

In humans, leptospirosis can cause flu-like symptoms — but many people "have no symptoms," the city said this week.

And many doctors may not recognize the disease locally because it is so rare.

This week, the city issued an update to its January announcement along with "technical guidance" for medical providers.

In addition, the city wrote, "Outreach teams will disseminate flyers to all unhoused and vehicle-resident individuals within a 1.5-mile radius of the Harrison Street corridor to provide additional information on leptospirosis and the actions they can take to keep themselves safe."

The city said it is now retiring the buffer zone guidance and instead focusing on "enhanced sanitation, vector suppression, and targeted outreach" to those living in "close proximity to rats, wherever they are located."

The couple in the RV lived outside the buffer zone when they got sick, the city noted.

The Scanner added the background section to this story just after publication. Stay tuned for additional updates.

Like many others, I spend a lot of time at the waterfront dreaming of what could happen with Golden Gate Fields.

Trust for Public Land (TPL) currently has an option to buy the land for $175 million and the proposed California 2026-27 Spending Plan allocates $125 million, sourced from the Climate Bond, toward the purchase.

At this very beginning stage, before the state's June 15 budget deadline, I urge you to join me in encouraging Sen. Jesse Arreguin, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, Gov. Gavin Newsom, East Bay Regional Park District and TPL to leave the door open to the myriad futures this spectacular parcel could have.

Unfortunately, as exciting as the Sacramento funding discussions are, by relying on the Climate Bond, its destiny is perhaps unwittingly being constrained.

A more flexible source, like the General Fund, for at least some of the money, would reserve Climate Bond funds for numerous other projects in need of them, while giving the East Bay community greater freedom to shape Golden Gate Fields' future.

Since the racetrack closed, public discourse has focused on turning all 161 acres into a park. But is that really its best future?

There are currently hundreds of acres of open space between Point Isabel and the Bay Bridge, in an area with a severe housing shortage, but no shortage of neighborhoods that resist new housing.

I propose setting aside, say, a quarter of the parcel — the 25% closest to the freeway — for a new housing community. Development should be on the table as the future of this once-in-a-generation site unfolds.

If some housing is desired, this new neighborhood straddling the Berkeley/Albany border could be designed to be car-free or car-lite, along the lines of Culdesac Tempe, a wildly successful, walkable, human-scale development in Arizona, recently profiled by the New York Times and The Daily Show.

Imagine two- and three-story buildings close together, with winding, plant-laden paths. Imagine walkable open spaces for gathering near small, locally-owned shops and cafes.

This new community center could host markets, cultural events and educational programming. There could be a preschool, spaces for local organizations and a free shuttle to nearby areas. The list of options is countless and more would emerge with community input.

A thoughtfully-designed community alongside the new park could create magical places to spend time, draw far more people to the park and the area, and generate jobs, businesses and tax revenue for Albany, Berkeley and Alameda County.

This could dwarf the racetrack revenue these communities have lost, helping, among other things, local school districts. Moreover, development could help fund park construction while the annual revenue from this new neighborhood could fund ongoing operations.

With the ink not yet dry on TPL’s $175 million option, we can all agree that it is much too early to lock in a plan for this unparalleled site.

Yet that is exactly what will happen if the legislature funds the purchase with the Climate Bond. As proposed, Golden Gate Fields could only be used as a "park and recreational hub."

While the current zoning restrictions could be changed with public support, this new funding restriction would permanently prevent development, even climate-friendly, sea-level-conscious development, that could thrive there, a short bike ride from the future Berkeley ferry and Bay Bridge bike path, San Pablo Avenue shopping and even Costco.

Golden Gate Fields park deal: All the latest details

Officials have begun answering key questions about potential financial impacts in Albany, the timeline and what the public process will entail.

The Berkeley ScannerEmilie Raguso

The time is now to ensure the purchase does not foreclose the option to make the park more viable by potentially incorporating suitable, community-supported desperately-needed development at Golden Gate Fields.

But the clock is ticking. Changes to the Spending Plan must be done before the June 15 budget deadline. For now, help keep our options open by asking your elected officials to advocate for state funding to allow discretionary uses at Golden Gate Fields.

Andrew Fisher is a self-employed consultant and full-time Berkeley resident who, in light of climate change, imagines his daughters asking him one day, "What did you do, Daddy?" He is working on the answer and this is part of it.

The Scanner will periodically publish guest essays from community members on issues of interest or concern. Authors who are not already TBS members will receive a complimentary membership in return. Submit your ideas to TBS.

Police opened an arson investigation after the fire, which took place Saturday night.

No one was hurt, but the shelter is now closed — perhaps for months — and all the animals have been relocated, the city said Tuesday.

"After reviewing security surveillance footage from the area, detectives believe that the fire was intentionally lit," Berkeley police said in a brief prepared statement Tuesday afternoon. "The investigation remains active and ongoing as detectives continue to gather evidence and identify those involved."

Authorities previously said there was a broken window near the area that burned, beneath the first-floor stairwell where the shelter collected donations.

Police said they were able to determine from the security footage that someone had thrown something at the window to break it Saturday night.

Police have not shared any suspect description information or other details.

But they ask anyone who may have information about the case to call BPD's Property Crimes Unit at 510-981-5737.

"Information provided by community members may be critical to advancing the investigation," police said.

The warning is in effect from Wednesday at 11 p.m. through Thursday at 9 a.m.

Gusty winds and extremely low humidity are expected, resulting in potentially dangerous fire weather and an increased risk of power outages.

"Extreme fire behavior and rapid rates of spread likely on new and existing wildfires," said the National Weather Service, which issued the warning Tuesday morning.

A heat advisory is also in effect in the Berkeley Hills this week, from Thursday at noon until 11 p.m.

AC Alert, Alameda County's emergency notification system, shared the Red Flag warning Tuesday morning, noting that parts of the county could be affected.

"Wildfires can start easily and spread rapidly. PREPARE a go bag in case of evacuations. AVOID outdoor activities that can cause sparks. STAY AWARE," the county wrote.

The city of Berkeley issued its own AC Alert just before 2:50 p.m.

"Winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour and gusts up to 45 miles per hour with humidity between 12 to 18% are expected — conditions that lead to quick ignition and spread of fires," the city wrote.

Berkeley residents who live in "high-risk areas" should prepare for evacuation.

"Red Flag Warnings are an early indicator of increased wildfire risk," the city said. "These warnings are issued when strong winds, low humidity and dry vegetation can combine to create dangerous fire conditions that can cause wildfires to spark easily and spread rapidly."

Officials urge residents to find their "zone" in Berkeley to learn how best to respond during an emergency.

On Tuesday, the city identified the following Berkeley zones as high risk: BER-003 through BER-010, BER-012, BER-015 through BER-020, BER-028 through BER-033, BER-040, BER-057, BER-058, BER-066, and BER-076 through BER-078. 

The Scanner has asked the city for additional details but had not heard back as of publication time.

Sign up for disaster preparedness alerts from the city of Berkeley and learn how to use the city's emergency map and app to stay informed.

Fire weather safety tips from the National Weather Service

• Never leave burning debris or camp fires unattended; extinguish them completely.
• Avoid using equipment or machinery that could create a spark.
• Secure tow chains to avoid dragging and subsequent sparks.
• Never toss cigarette butts out of your vehicle's window. Remember, one less spark, one less flame.

Fire weather safety tips from the city of Berkeley

Be ready to receive emergency alerts.   

• Sign up for AC Alert at ACalert.org
• Download the city's emergency map app for push alerts
• Leave your phone on overnight, and keep "do not disturb" off, to get alerts even while you are sleeping

Download and complete a household fire weather and evacuation plan.

• Having a plan helps you make decisions ahead of time, so you can act faster in an emergency
• Review your plan with your household and anyone who would help you leave early or evacuate
• Plan multiple ways out of your neighborhood. For wildfire evacuation out of the Berkeley Hills, your safest option is using a car. Make plans to drive or carpool with neighbors.  
• Put your go-bag by the front door. You can evacuate faster if you are ready to leave when ordered.  
• Park off-street. Back your car into your driveway or garage. This helps clear streets clear for emergency vehicles and prepares you to leave more quickly if needed.  

Learn more about Red Flag warnings on Berkeley's fire weather and evacuation page.  

Fire prevention tips from the city of Berkeley

Everyone in Berkeley can help prevent fires by making safe choices, following the rules and reporting unsafe activity. Remember Fireworks are illegal in Berkeley and nearby areas.   

• Use extreme caution with BBQs, power tools and anything that creates heat   
• Hot engines can start fires: Park on pavement, not on grass or other vegetation
• Follow the rules for Berkely’s high-risk zones, including on private property 
  • Do not use charcoal or burn wood
  • Do not use tools that create heat or sparks
• Follow the rules for city parks and other city property
  • Do not do any outdoor burning
  • Do not use tools that create heat or sparks

If you see something unsafe, call 911 right away.  

In Berkeley disasters, early evacuation is key: new study

“Early evacuation is the best course of action,” said retired Councilwoman Susan Wengraf. “The longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be.”

The Berkeley ScannerKate Darby Rauch

The city issued a new statement Tuesday about the work that needs to happen.

Initially, the city hoped to re-open the shelter this week after a brief closure.

All of the shelter animals — including several dozen cats and dogs — have now been relocated, the city said.

Many services, including adoptions and volunteer work, are now on hold.

The full statement, released by the city of Berkeley just after 12:30 p.m., appears below in full.

After evaluating the damage from the June 6 fire at the Berkeley Animal Shelter, staff have determined that we have no choice but to temporarily close the facility. All animals have been relocated to supportive shelters and staff at our shelter did a tremendous job in quickly finding places for them. The closure is expected to last a minimum of three weeks to remediate smoke damage and repair the sprinkler system but could last months. We will try and reopen as quickly as possible.

Out of safety precautions for both City staff and shelter animals, the Berkeley Animal Shelter has paused the following services until the building is fully remediated:  

• Adoption services 
• Lost & found pet services 
• Volunteer work 
• Animal field services 
• All walk-in services  

Following a building inspection on June 8, staff determined that there was no structural damage to the building. However, the after-effects of the fire rendered the building temporarily unsafe for people (smoke damage in staff areas) or animals (sprinkler system down).

No staff, people, or animals were injured in the June 6 fire. The Berkeley Fire and Police Departments are investigating the cause of the fire. 

If pet owners or members of the public have animal services questions, they can email  animalservices@berkeleyca.gov . For those who would like to drop off or adopt an animal, we recommend contacting other local shelters. Please call the local shelters in advance to verify that they have space before bringing animals. 

Friends of Berkeley Animal Care Services, a community support group for the shelter, is seeking monetary donations online.

In an email to volunteers over the weekend, which was shared with The Scanner, the group said the fire damaged "essential donated supplies, including toys, special food, blankets, dog beds, crates, and leashes etc. etc."

Stay tuned for updates.

The fire was small and no animals were hurt or displaced, officials said.

But there were indications of suspicious activity, including a broken window in the vicinity of the fire, Deputy Berkeley Fire Chief Keith May told The Scanner.

And damage, including from smoke, closed the shelter to the public Sunday, Peter Radu told ABC7, with reopening expected by mid-week.

"I got the phone call maybe about 10:40 last night, that there was a fire here," Radu, who works in the city manager's office, told the news station. "My mind immediately went to: Oh, my God. This could be a horrible tragedy."

Readers alerted The Scanner to the fire Saturday night, asking for details.

The Berkeley Fire Department was initially notified just before 10:10 p.m.

It began with a sprinkler system alert indicating water flow, Chief May said.

At least one caller also saw flames inside the building, according to radio dispatches reviewed by The Scanner.

Arriving firefighters found a working fire beneath the first-floor stairwell where the shelter collects donations, May said.

The building sprinkler system "did its job," stopping the fire from spreading beyond the stairwell, he said.

Radu told ABC7 that the kennel fire doors also kept the animals safe.

The fire was declared under control before 10:30 p.m., according to emergency dispatches.

May said authorities will interview potential witnesses, including shelter staff, this week to learn more about what could have happened.

Update, June 8, 10:45 a.m. Peter Radu, Neighborhood Services manager, provided the following update Monday: "The shelter remains closed today as we continue to assess impacts of the fire, the safety of the building for animals and people, and what we need to resume normal operations. This is a fluid situation and evolving quickly, so at this time we cannot comment on nor project how long it will take to open."

Update, June 8, 3:45 p.m. The Berkeley Fire Department just shared the following statement. It appears below in full.

Berkeley Fire received a 9-1-1 call at 10:08 p.m. on Saturday, June 6. The initial call was for a water flow alarm, but it was upgraded to a working structure fire.

Nine units responded to the call. The building's sprinkler system held the fire in check. The fire originated under a stairwell where donated items for the shelter were stored. The fire remains under investigation but is considered suspicious in nature.

There were no injuries to civilians, animals, or fire fighters and the crew encountered no challenges during the response.

The fire appears to have been contained to the stairwell area. We do not have an assessment of damages at this point.

The City shelter remains closed to the public as the City continues to evaluate the impacts of the fire, the safety of the building for animals and people, and what is needed to resume normal operations.

There are no further details at this time.

Connect with the Berkeley Animal Shelter on Instagram. See the current adoptable dogs and adoptable cats. See shelter wishlists on Chewy and Amazon or make a donation.