5-alarm Keller Fire in Oakland Hills prompts evacuations

Updated 5:53 p.m.:

The Oakland Fire Department says the Keller Fire “impacted” two residential homes. Dozens of homes on Maynard Avenue, Sanford Street, Greenridge Drive, and Canyon Oaks Drive were threatened but not damaged.

OFD spokesperson Michael Hunt told The Oaklandside that the fire is now contained, but it’s not under control.

“We will have a presence here likely through the evening tomorrow,” Hunt wrote.

Updated 5:01 p.m.:

Firefighters continue to work on putting out hot spots around the area of Keller Avenue and Mountain Boulevard. Evacuation orders are still in effect for much of the area. Check this map for details.

The Berkeley Fire Department has recommended that everyone living in the Berkeley Hills preemptively evacuate their homes by 8 p.m. this evening until 7 a.m. tomorrow, Sat. Oct. 19. This is an advisory, not an order. 

As of 4:23 p.m., the Keller Avenue off-ramp for both directions of the I-580 and the Keller Avenue on-ramp for westbound I-580 remain closed to traffic, according to CHP.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District is urging residents to take precautions as smoke from the wildlife is expected to impact air quality.

Updated at 4:39 p.m.:

Over 500 residents have been evacuated from the Oakland hills around Mountain Boulevard and Keller Avenue.

While forward progress has stopped, meaning fire crews have halted the fire from spreading in a certain direction, OFD Chief Damon Covington says the flames have not yet been contained as crews deal with flammable eucalyptus trees.

Covington told media that no one has been injured. Less than 10 structures were impacted and no other structures are thought to be threatened at this time. He also said that while crews have a lot of work ahead of them, they expect the fire to be contained in the next “hour or so.” 

The fire is now reported to be 15 acres.

Original story last update 4:23 p.m. on Oct. 18, 2024

Residents near the I-580, Mountain Boulevard, and Keller Avenue area in the Oakland Hills evacuated their homes as a five-alarm fire grew to 13 acres Friday afternoon.

As of 4 p.m., OFD says forward progress of the fire has stopped.

The first call reporting the Keller Fire was made around 1:15 p.m., according to Michael Hunt, chief of staff for the Oakland Fire Department.  The fire started near I-580 and traveled quickly up the hillside. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Hunt told the Oaklandside that around 10 structures have been impacted and several more were threatened. No injuries have been reported. Around 100 firefighters are on scene, including Cal Fire deploying air support. Cal Fire crews were standing by across the state as red flag warnings went out this week.

Evacuation warnings remain in effect for the Ridgemont, Caballo Hills, Monte Vista, Leona Drive, and Old Quarry Loop neighborhoods. The city of Oakland is urging residents in those areas to leave urgently and bring all pets, people, essential items and medications with them. They also advise residents in this area to only take one car when evacuating.

There are four evacuation points, safe areas where people can go:

• Bushrod Recreation Center – 560 59th St.
• East Oakland Sports Center – 9161 Edes Ave.
• Ira Jinkins Recreation Center – 9175 Edes Ave.
• La Escuelita Elementary School – 1050 2nd Ave.

Merritt College closed its campus in response to the fire.

Pacific Gas and Electric is reporting an unplanned power outage near Keller Avenue. It is unknown at this time if the two events are related.

The National Weather Service put out a red flag warning starting Oct. 17 — alerts designed to let fire managers and residents know that dry, windy conditions could lead to especially damaging fires. The warning remains in effect through this Sunday 5 p.m.

Update 5) This 4 Alarm Fire Incident is now at 8 acres burning. 4-5 structures have been impacted directly with several more threatened. 80+ firefighters on scene. The prepositioned @Cal_OES apparatus and @CAL_FIRE air and OPs support have arrived. https://t.co/3Bo2DC4G43

— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) October 18, 2024

All westbound lanes on I-580 east of the Keller Avenue exit have reopened as of 3:53 p.m., according to CHP Oakland.

Most of the Oakland hills are classified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the state. The 1991 Oakland hills firestorm broke out on Oct. 19, 1991, almost exactly 33 years ago.

This is a breaking news story: we will post updates as more information becomes available.

Azucena Rasilla and Ashley McBride contributed to this reporting.