All residents of Thousand Oaks neighborhood can leave or return home

UPDATE Jan. 26, 2026: Residents within a roughly one-block radius of the intersection of Colusa and Tacoma avenues in North Berkeley should shelter in place or leave the area no later than 10:30 am Monday, January 26, 2026, until an all-clear is posted on the City’s emergency communications channels.

Residents within a roughly one-block radius of the intersection of Colusa and Tacoma avenues in North Berkeley should shelter in place or leave the area no later than 10:30 am Monday, January 26, 2026, until an all-clear is posted on the City’s emergency communications channels. 

Residents in this area, which is visible on the City’s emergency map, should prepare to be out of the area or inside your home for at least the entire day. 

This shelter in place order will keep residents safe as Berkeley Fire, Berkeley Police, and neighboring agencies protect the area and remove home photography lab chemicals that have become toxic, heat-sensitive, and volatile.

Ensure that you have signed up all phone numbers in your home for AC Alert, the City’s emergency alert system, which sends text and email updates. AC Alert will be used to send updates on this incident as well as the final all-clear message.

For residents in the Affected area

You’ll need to decide whether you’ll be inside your home or out of the area no later than 10:30 a.m. 

To keep you, your household, and others safe, you will not be able to come and go. 

Remember to bring your pet’s food, leash/harness, medications, and any other items you might need to care for your pet. 

We are removing hazardous materials from a home. For your safety, once we get an all clear from our emergency crews, we will open this area to residents and others.

The City activated its Emergency Operations Center to coordinate the emergency response across City departments and neighboring agencies.

Links

• Sign up for AC Alert to get text message and email updates.
• See neighborhood-specific updates on the City’s emergency map or download the Genasys Protect app.
• City social media:  Bluesky