USF Professor Killed by Berkeley Apartment Fire

Published Sept. 10, 2013, 9:54 a.m., updated 12:23 p.m.

By Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News Service

A 56-year-old man died in a two-alarm fire at an apartment building in Berkeley early this morning, Tuesday, according to the Alameda County coroner's bureau.

Berkeley resident Andrew Goodwin was transported from the scene of the fire to Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for treatment, where he later succumbed to his injuries, according to the coroner's bureau.

(Berkeley Patch editor's note: Goodwin was a professor at the University of San Francisco, according to USF officials. His profile on the university's website says he is the author of a well-known book, Dancing in the Distraction Factory. Music Television and Popular Culture, and was at work on a book about Led Zepplin. See Patch article, "USF Mourns Professor Killed by Berkeley Fire.")

The fire, located at 2431 Oregon St., near Telegraph Avenue, was reported at 1:38 a.m., said Berkeley fire Acting Deputy Chief Avery Webb.

Firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire as residents were evacuating the building. Seven of the building's eight residents were accounted for and had evacuated unharmed, Webb said.

A report from citizens that one resident might still be inside the building, led firefighters to force entry into the third floor unit, which was heavily engulfed in the fire, Webb said.

Firefighters found Goodwin inside his third floor apartment and transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased, according to Webb.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control at 2:08 a.m., Webb said.

According to Webb, the fire caused heavy damage to the third floor as well as significant water damage to the second and first floors.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation this morning.

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