A three-alarm fire broke out early Thursday morning at a popular food court in Castro Valley.Flames were reported about 2 a.m. at the Lake Chabot Public Market at 18911 Lake Chabot Road, Alameda County firefighters said. It's unclear what started the fire, but resident Jason Sanstrom said he had his windows open and he smelled smoke and saw hazy skies."I looked online and someone had posted that the market was on fire, and we came down to take a look," he said.
" The market offers craft beers, food groceries and an open-seated café. The fire was contained by 5:30 a.m. The roof of the market caved in during the firefight, which is when the crews had to pull out. The fire hit close to home for Alameda County Fire Battalion Chief Justin Hoglund. One of the market's owners is a childhood friend."We grew up together, went to high school together," Hoglund said, adding that the market is a "pinnacle in the community.