The Oakland Fire Department has reported that a dangerous 4-alarm brush fire broke out in the Oakland Hills on Friday afternoon, destroying homes and forcing people to leave the area. The fire, dubbed the Keller Fire, started near Mountain Boulevard and Maynard Avenue, about a mile from the Oakland Zoo.
The Keller Fire spread quickly, burning over 10 acres. More than 80 firefighters from different agencies have rushed to fight the flames. The Oakland Fire Department reported on X that seven buildings were damaged and more structures are still in danger. To help, CAL FIRE sent aircraft to drop water and fire retardant on the fire.
At the time of writing, no injuries or death have been reported. However, about thirty years ago, in October 1991, a terrible fire known as the Tunnel Fire struck the Oakland Hills. This fire, similar to the current one, resulted in the loss of more than 20 lives.
Officials have ordered people to leave their homes in certain areas. These evacuation orders were for zones OKL-E203 (Caballo Hills – Keller Ave, Mountain Blvd) and OKL-E176 (Ridgemont / Caballo Hills – Campus Dr, Stoneridge Ct, Crystal Ridge Ct). They also warned people in nearby zones OKL-E177, OKL-E179, and OKL-E178 to be ready to leave if needed.
The Keller Fire, which started around 2 p.m., caused problems for drivers too. The California Highway Patrol closed westbound Interstate 580 east of Keller Avenue and told drivers to expect delays or find other routes. Additionally, to prevent new fires from starting, the power company PG&E turned off electricity to about 16,000 customers in the area, with hopes to restore it by around 5 p.m.
This fire happened during a “Red Flag Warning” – a time when the weather makes fires more likely to start and spread quickly. The warning started around 11 p.m. Thursday and is set to last until Saturday evening, according to NWS Bay Area.
With firefighters working to control the Keller Fire, they’re asking people to stay informed about evacuation orders and follow all instructions from local authorities. The situation is still changing, and emergency workers are doing their best to protect lives and homes from this dangerous wildfire.
