Officials investigate suspicious homeless camp fire

Fire crews on Sunday morning extinguished a suspicious blaze that burned a homeless camp near Fremont’s Niles neighborhood.

No injuries were reported in the fire, but makeshift housing and items that belonged to homeless residents burned in the fire, which started shortly before 10 a.m.

The 1-alarm blaze scorched just under an acre near Mowry Avenue and Mission Boulevard. The fire was contained in about a half-hour, fire officials said.

No structures were threatened by the blaze.
Nearby railroad tracks were closed to allow fire crews to bring hoses to the site, and at least one train was being held up as of 10:45 a.m., fire officials said.

The cause of the blaze was deemed suspicious and Fremont police and fire crews are investigating, fire officials said.