A significant wildfire, classified as a five-alarm blaze, ignited in Oakland, California, on Friday, leading to the destruction of two residences and triggering evacuation orders.
As per the latest update from the Oakland Fire Department shared on X early Saturday, teams are “actively working to completely extinguish” the fire, referred to as the Keller Fire, in the Oakland Hills region.
The incident began Friday afternoon at a property located on Mountain Avenue. Wind conditions caused the fire to spread into a eucalyptus grove, expanding its reach to 15 acres, according to reports from NBC Bay Area. As of Saturday morning, the fire was reported to be 50% contained, as stated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire).
Fire Chief Damon Covington addressed the media on Friday, acknowledging that while firefighting crews successfully halted the fire’s expansion, “there’s still ample work ahead.”
The Oakland Fire Department indicated that two homes suffered damage due to the fire. Additionally, numerous other properties in the areas of Maynard, Sanford, Greenridge, and Canyon Oaks faced potential threats from the flames but remained unscathed.
Initially, evacuation orders were issued for Campus Drive and Crystal Ridge Court, but these warnings were later extended to include nearby neighborhoods, as reported by NBC Bay Area. Oakland’s Mayor Shen Tao urged residents to evacuate without delay.
“The reason for your evacuation is to safeguard the well-being of our community,” she stated during a press briefing on Friday.
Delane Sims shared that her home was among the two that were damaged. She recounted to NBC Bay Area that her husband was inside when the flames erupted, causing the front window to explode.
“That blast woke him up and allowed him to escape. I’m truly thankful for that—it’s my biggest relief,” she expressed. “Thank God for his safety.”
