Fast-Moving Fire in Oakland Forces Evacuations
OAKLAND — A rapidly spreading fire, fueled by strong winds, destroyed two homes and caused damage to several others in an Oakland hillside neighborhood on Friday, prompting the evacuation of approximately 500 residents, officials reported.
Fire Chief Damon Covington stated that the fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. in front of a residence in the Oakland hills. Fire crews arrived swiftly, but the flames quickly intensified, driven by wind gusts reaching up to 40 mph.
“The wind was whipping,” Covington noted.
According to fire department spokesperson Michael Hunt, one home sustained significant damage, while another experienced minor flames. Fewer than 10 additional homes were affected by smoke and water damage, although initial reports indicated varying numbers of impacted properties.
The fire’s location near the 580 Freeway caused traffic congestion as residents attempted to evacuate, with smoke visible over the city of 440,000. The blaze ignited eucalyptus trees, spreading rapidly and jumping across roadways. Within three hours, it scorched approximately 13 acres. By 4 p.m., crews halted its progress, although numerous firefighters remained on the scene to combat the flames.
“We have less than 10 homes that have been damaged, and we had hundreds of homes and structures that were threatened,” Chief Covington stated.
The cause of the fire remains unknown, as authorities have issued red flag warnings for fire risk across California, particularly in a large area extending from the central coast through the Bay Area and into northern regions near the Oregon border.
A California utility shut off power across 19 counties in northern and central California due to the heightened wildfire risk associated with the notorious “diablo wind,” known for its dry, gusty conditions during autumn.
The Oakland Hills fire occurred just one day before the anniversary of a devastating 1991 fire that destroyed nearly 3,000 homes and resulted in 25 fatalities.
Smoke clouds were visible from 2 to 3 miles away as firetrucks and ambulances struggled to navigate through heavy traffic. Some frustrated motorists abandoned their vehicles on the freeway’s shoulder while attempting to escape gridlock.
Red flag warnings were also issued for Southern California, where another brush fire threatened homes in the Rolling Heights area of Los Angeles County. That fire ignited around 3:00 p.m. in the Hacienda Heights hills, and firefighters are actively working to prevent it from reaching nearby structures.
Around 16,000 customers experienced power outages on Friday due to precautionary shut-offs by the utility company.
As the diablo wind reduces humidity, vegetation becomes increasingly susceptible to ignition. This wind phenomenon, which is informally referred to as "devil wind," typically blows from the interior toward the coast as high-pressure systems develop in the region.
The National Weather Service forecasts sustained winds up to 35 mph, with gusts possibly exceeding 65 mph in mountainous areas, expected to persist through the weekend. An estimated 20,000 customers could face temporary power losses in the coming days.
Warnings for red flag fire conditions have also been issued for valleys and mountains across Los Angeles County, driven by dry, warm, and powerful winds moving toward the coast.
While wind speeds in the greater Los Angeles area are expected to be less intense than in northern regions, gusts could reach between 25 and 40 mph in the mountains and foothills. Recent measurements showed gusts of 45 to 55 mph in the Santa Monica and San Gabriel mountains.
In contrast, light snowfall was reported on some mountaintops around Lake Tahoe, where strong winds were recorded through the night, and a freeze warning has been issued along the Sierra’s eastern front, with temperatures predicted to drop into the low 20s Fahrenheit.
