Investigation reports from the Oakland Fire Department or CAL FIRE

Five-Alarm Keller Fire in Oakland Hills Damages Seven Homes, Prompts Evacuations and I-580 Closure

Oct 18, 2024, 10:06 PM

A fast-moving brush fire broke out Friday afternoon in the Oakland Hills near the intersection of Mountain Boulevard and Keller Avenue, prompting evacuations and damaging multiple homes. The fire, dubbed the Keller Fire, quickly escalated to a five-alarm blaze, spreading from vegetation to structures amid high winds and critically dry conditions under a Red Flag Warning. Approximately ten acres have burned, and at least seven homes have been damaged. Evacuation orders were issued for residents on Campus Drive, Crystal Ridge Court, and additional zones as the fire progressed, with officials urging residents to use the Genasys evacuation program. Approximately 80 firefighters and multiple fire agencies are on the scene, with CAL FIRE aircraft assisting by dropping fire retardant and water on the blaze. Interstate 580 westbound was closed at Keller Avenue due to the fire but later reopened after forward progress was stopped. The fire was visible from across the bay in San Francisco. No injuries have been reported.