5-alarm blaze damages homes in California’s Oakland Hills neighborhood amid Fire Weather Warnings
Large parts of the Golden State were under an increased risk fire during the late week and early weekend due to what are known as diablo winds. PG&E, the Golden State’s largest utility provider, preemptively shut off power to thousands of customers this week to help reduce the threat of wildfires.
Fire damages homes in California's Oakland Hills neighborhood
A 13-acre vegetation fire damaged several homes outside of Oakland, local firefighters said on Friday. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined, but during the firefighting efforts, parts of Interstate 580 had to be shut down.
OAKLAND, Calif. – A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.
The Oakland Fire Department said on Friday that it believed its crews had stopped the forward progress of the Keller Fire, which destroyed about 15 acres and burned two homes. As of Sunday, officials said the Keller Fire is 60% contained and crews are expected to aggressively attack the fire throughout the rest of the weekend.
Firefighters said they believe the fire started in the median of nearby Interstate 580 before quickly spreading, triggering dozens of crews to respond by both air and land to try to contain the blaze.
A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.
(Oakland Fire Dept. / FOX Weather)
"By the time we got on scene, it had jumped from the front of a house across to a grove of eucalyptus behind the house," Oakland's Fire Chief Damon Covington told FOX 2 Bay Area. "We immediately called for a 2nd, 3rd and 4th alarm. We have resources from around the Bay Area on scene, including Cal Fire air resources. We're in pretty good shape. We still have a lot of work to do."
Photos and videos taken in one of the impacted neighborhoods showed smoke rising from at least one home as firefighters worked to attack hotspots.
This graphic shows the latest with the Keller Fire in California.
(FOX Weather)
None of the residents were reported injured, and the fire chief praised the response of neighboring jurisdictions.
During the height of the fire activity, parts of I-580 were shut down, but the freeway has since reopened. Some evacuations have also been lifted, according to officials.
![A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 1 of 7A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Dept.)
![A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 2 of 7A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Dept. )
![A pop-up fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 3 of 7A pop-up fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Department)
![A pop-up fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 4 of 7A pop-up fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Department)
![A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 5 of 7A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Dept. )
![A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 6 of 7A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Dept. )
![A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.]()
Image 7 of 7A 5-alarm fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze. (Oakland Fire Dept. )
THOUSANDS WITHOUT POWER AS ‘DIABLO WINDS’ CREATE FIRE THREAT IN CALIFORNIA
'I'm still in shock'
Delane Sims' family home was one of the two damaged in the fire. The fire blew out her home's front window.
Sims said her husband was at home alone sleeping when the fire reached their home.
A pop-up fire outside of Oakland caused hundreds of people to be evacuated on Friday afternoon as multiple agencies worked to control the blaze.
(Oakland Fire Department / FOX Weather)
"I think I'm still in shock, but most of all, I'm just incredibly grateful to God that my husband's life was spared," Sims told FOX 2 Bay Area. "My husband called me and said, ‘Our house is burning.’ He heard an explosion."
She said it was the heat from the approaching flames that blew out their front window.
"And that's what woke him up so he could get out of the house with just the clothes on his back," Sims said. "Had that not happened, I don't know what would have happened. That's why I'm incredibly grateful that my husband got out of there."
Blaze occurs nearly on 33-year anniversary of deadly fire
The blaze erupted nearly 33 years to the day that a firestorm destroyed thousands of homes and businesses in 1991.
On Oct. 19, a grass fire quickly grew out of control, killing at least 25 people and injuring many more in the hills north of Oakland.
At the time, damages were estimated to be around $1.5 billion, making the inferno one of this nation's most costly fires.
After-action reports completed in the wake of the fire determined that a lack of accessible water played a significant role in the failure of fire suppression efforts.
Conditions were less favorable for fires on Friday compared to more than three decades ago, yet large areas of the state still met the criteria for fire weather alerts.
Dangerous Diablo Winds spark wildfire threat in northern California
Gusty winds and low humidity have triggered Fire Weather Warnings across central and northern California.
Diablo Winds maintain fire threat in California
According to the FOX Forecast Center, the combination of northerly to easterly winds and low relative humidity values caused local National Weather Service offices to issue Red Flag Warnings for millions of Californians.
The phenomenon known as Diablo winds was expected to reach 45-55 mph, with locally higher gusts.
PG&E, the Golden State’s largest utility provider, preemptively shut off power to thousands of customers this week to help reduce the threat of wildfires.
The power outages are part of the company's Public Safety Power Shutoff program (PSPS), which is designed to reduce the risk of electrical equipment starting fires.
Farther south, the phenomenon known as "Santa Ana winds" was also expected to impact parts of Southern California.
In addition to the Keller Fire, CAL FIRE reported responding to sizable blazes in both Solano and Riverside counties, but neither had triggered widespread evacuations.
(FOX Weather)