Calmer weather helps contain Oakland, California, fire that forced evacuations
Fire crews took advantage of calmer weather Sunday to increase efforts to battle a small wildfire in Oakland, California, that burned two homes
OAKLAND, California — Fire crews took advantage of calmer weather Sunday to increase their fight against a small wildfire in Oakland, California, that burned two homes and forced more than 500 people to evacuate.
Most residents were allowed to return home Saturday, but a handful of evacuation orders remained in effect for a hilly neighborhood where firefighters were still extinguishing hot spots.
“We don’t want to assume it’s out and come back and spark again,” Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said during a briefing Saturday evening.
By Sunday morning, the fire was 70% under control.
Flames broke out Friday afternoon and were fueled by a large “ diablo wind ” – infamous in the fall for hot, dry wind gusts – which increased the risk of wildfires in Northern California. Red flag warnings for increased fire danger expired on Saturday and conditions were further relaxed over the weekend.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
The fire burned a day before one’s 19th birthday 1991 fire in the Oakland Hills, destroying nearly 3,000 homes and killing 25 people.