Oakland Hills fire now at 50% containment with hundreds still under evacuation orders

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) — A wind-fueled brush fire Friday damaged at least two structures and forced hundreds to evacuate. Forward progress has been stopped, and firefighters are hoping to have the fire under control by Saturday night.

PREVIOUS STORY: Oakland Hills fire forces hundreds to evacuate, damages at least 2 homes, officials say

Oakland firefighters said Saturday morning that the fire is at 50% containment. At least 15 acres burned.

Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said about 200 firefighters from several Bay Area fire departments were called to back up the Oakland Fire Department after the fire broke out at about 1:30 p.m. on Friday off Interstate Highway 580 and Keller Avenue. Cal Fire assisted with air support.

“Without them, we would be having a very different conversation,” Covington said at a press briefing on Saturday morning.

VIDEO: 5-alarm brush fire damages Oakland Hills homes, 33 years after firestorm

Some people have been allowed to return to their homes but the area of Campus Drive and at the top of the ridge are still under evacuation orders due to the heavy winds. Chief Covington says he’s hoping to have everyone back in their homes by Saturday night.

Covington said crews would remain on scene throughout the day to extinguish the remaining fire and monitor hot spots and ensure increasing winds did not reignite the flames, which were still burning in some vegetation and tree stumps.

“The elevated temperatures and the heavy winds is what we’ll be watching for,” Covington said.

Firefighters expect to be there through Sunday.

Firefighters are also concerned about trees that suffered significant damage falling while crews work in the area.

TIMELINE: Red Flag Warning in effect through this evening

The cause and origin of the fire is still under investigation at this time. Chief Covington said there was one minor injury Friday evening.

During a news conference Friday evening, Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said that 500 residents were evacuated.

Evacuation orders have been issued for the following zones:

• OKL-E176 – Ridgemont/Caballo Hills – Campus Dr, Stoneridge Ct, Crystal Ridge Ct.
• OKL-E177 – Sequoyah – Keller Ave, Campus Dr, Canyon Oaks Dr.
• OKL-E203 – Caballo Hills – Keller Ave, Mountain Blvd.

Evacuations have been lifted for the following zones:

• OKL-E179- Ridgemont/Caballo Hills/Monte Vista Villas – Leona Dr, Old Quarry Loop
• OKL-E178 – Ridgemont/Caballo Hills – Campus Dr, Ridgemont Dr.
• OKL-E204 – Sequoyah – Keller Ave, Mountain Blvd.

An evacuation center was set up at Burckhalter Elementary School.

This fire comes nearly 33 years to the date after the deadly Oakland Hills firestorm.

On Oct. 19, 1991, the Tunnel Fire tore through the Oakland Hills killing 25 people and destroying nearly 3,500 homes.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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