A fast-moving wildfire erupted Friday afternoon in the Oakland Hills, burning at least two homes and prompting evacuations as firefighters battled strong winds.
The Oakland Fire Department reported that the blaze started around 1:30 p.m. near Interstate 580, Mountain Boulevard, and Keller Avenue. By 1:50 p.m., the fire had escalated to a three-alarm status, eventually growing to five alarms by mid-afternoon.
Fueled by winds gusting up to 22 mph, the fire scorched 13 acres before firefighters, aided by Cal Fire air and ground support, halted its progress just before 4 p.m. Over 80 firefighters responded to the emergency.
Evacuations and Impacted Areas
Residents of the Caballo Hills neighborhood, north of Highway 580, were evacuated as the fire threatened homes on Crystal Ridge Court, Altura Place, and Rifle Lane. An evacuation center was established at Burckhalter Elementary School.
As of 6 p.m., the fire had damaged two homes, while dozens more were at risk, including properties on Maynard, Sanford, and Greenridge. Evacuations remain in effect for specific zones, with real-time updates available via the City of Oakland’s official channels.
Traffic Disruptions
The California Highway Patrol issued a severe traffic alert due to the fire’s proximity to Highway 580, briefly closing all westbound lanes. One lane reopened by 3:30 p.m., with full traffic restoration by 4 p.m.
Critical Fire Conditions
The National Weather Service had placed the Bay Area under a Red Flag Warning, with a Wind Advisory predicting gusts of 50-65 mph in higher elevations. These dry, windy conditions are highly conducive to fire spread, heightening the region’s vulnerability.
Historical Context
This fire broke out near the site of the devastating 1991 Oakland-Berkeley firestorm, which killed 25 people, injured 150, and destroyed over 3,000 homes. That fire, like today’s, was driven by strong winds in critically dry conditions.
Authorities have yet to determine the cause of this latest fire.
