Crime & Safety
5-Alarm Fire In Oakland Hills: Forward Progress Stopped
Interstate highway 580 was shutdown, homes and vegetation burned as firefighters and equipment from multiple counties converged.
OAKLAND, CA — Forward progress on a five alarm fire in the Oakland Hills was stopped Friday afternoon, according to the Oakland Fire Department, but not before it burned homes, vegetation, and forced the shutdown of westbound lanes of Interstate Highway 580. The freeway has since reopened.
The number of homes burned has been variously reported by the Oakland Fire Department as "4-5," "fewer than 10," and the latest update is just two.
Statistics during a wildfire are often fluid as information comes from multiple sources.
There were no reports of injuries.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Multiple agencies from several counties sent personnel and equipment, holding the fast moving fire to 13 acres. The flames were also fought from the air.
Cal Fire had pre-positioned equipment and air support because of a Red Flag Alert, called by the National Weather Service, due to high winds, low humidity and dry vegetation.
Update 6) Forward Progress has been STOPPED for this 5th Alarm Fire. With multiple agencies from several counties assisting, the fast moving fire reached 13 acres. As of now, less than 10 structures impacted by fire activity. https://t.co/uxdyIlyN8J pic.twitter.com/c30mRN0msf
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 18, 2024
At one time, an evacuation order was in effect for hundreds of residents in zones OKL-E203, OKL-E204, OKL-E176, and OKL-E177; while zones OKL-E178, and OKL-E179 were under evacuation warnings. If you don't know what zone you are in, look up the info at this link.
The temporary evacuation point was Burckhalter Elementary School at 3994 Burckhalter Avenue.
The fire advanced quickly from initial callout at about 1:30 to a four alarm fire by 2:30. The statement that forward progress had been stopped on the five alarm fire was made shortly before 4 p.m.
Update 3) Incident has gone to a Third Alarm. Approximately 4 structures involved at this time (Mountain Blvd & Maynard). Approximately 60 firefighters responding. https://t.co/KVW1WDBmvV pic.twitter.com/RAdq6KxaTW
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 18, 2024
Friday's fire conjures nightmarish images of the Oakland Hills firestorm, also known as the Tunnel Fire, which erupted on October 20, 1991, and became one of California's most devastating urban wildfires. Fueled by strong winds and dry conditions, the blaze swept through the Oakland and Berkeley Hills, destroying over 3,000 homes and structures and killing 25 people. The fire burned approximately 1,500 acres before being fully contained.
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