A massive bushfire broke out in the Oakland Hills neighbourhood near Interstate 580 on Friday, the spokesperson of Oakland Fire Department Michael Hunt said. The fire burned at least seven homes and prompted authorities to release an evacuation order. No injuries were immediately reported.
In just three hours, the fire had spread to 13 acres, leading to traffic jams near the 580 Freeway, which connects the San Francisco Bay Area to central California.
Fire crews responded around 1:30 pm to the fire and currently around 120 firefighters are stationed in Oakland Hill, the Oakland Fire Department, with support from aircraft provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, are working to contain the blaze.
“Evacuate away from Keller and Mountain. The fire is moving north and northwest. The Temporary Evacuation Point is Burckhalter Elementary School at 3994 Burckhalter Ave,” according to the evacuation map.
“To everyone nearby in Oakland: Please follow all evacuation orders, adhere to safety guidelines, and stay safe,” said Rep. Barbara Lee, as reported by KRON-TV.
The fire broke out in an area devastated by the 1991 Oakland Hills fire, which claimed 25 lives and destroyed nearly 3000 thousand homes.
Red flag warnings for fire danger were issued across much of California due to strong “diablo winds,” known for creating dry, gusty conditions that heighten wildfire risk. These winds can reach speeds of up to 65 mph (104 kph) in mountainous areas.
The cause of fire remains unknown.
