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A fast-moving brush fire prompted evacuations in Oakland Hills, California

0:25
Unprecedented heat wave, large wildfires in the West
Noah Berger/AP
ByTenzin Shakya and Jack Moore
October 19, 2024, 1:17 AM

Dozens of firefighters worked Friday to put out a large fast-moving brush fire that threatened hundreds of homes in the Oakland hills in California and sparked evacuations of hundreds of residents amid extremely dry and gusty conditions.

At least two structures were damaged, though none of them were completely destroyed in the blaze, which spread to about 13 acres, Oakland Fire Department Chief Damon Covington told reporters at a news conference near the scene of the fire.

"We've stopped the forward progress of the fire," Covington said. "We still have a lot of work to do to mop up, but we are in a lot better shape than we were two hours ago."

At one point, residents of more than 200 nearby homes were ordered to evacuate, according to the fire department.

An air tanker drops retardant on a grass fire burning above Interstate 580 in Oakland, Calif., Oct. 18, 2024.
Noah Berger/AP

More than 100 firefighters from the Oakland Fire Department and nearby areas worked to put out the fast-moving fire.

There were no reported injuries.

The fire broke out about 1:30 p.m. local time near a home in the Keller Mountain Boulevard area. A resident inside heard an explosion, which was one of his windows exploding, but he was able to escape to safety, Covington said.

The fire quickly spread because of gusty winds. The fire broke out amid very windy and dry conditions, which had prompted a "Red Flag" warning for the risk of brush fires.

"When we arrived on scene, it was a wind-driven fire," the fire chief said. "Wind was whipping."

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.

Video released by the Oakland Fire Department on social media platform X earlier Friday showed firefighters hosing down a smoldering front lawn and flames showing from the roof of a home.

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Earlier, officials said Oakland police officers were going door-to-door telling residents to evacuate.

Video from the ABC-owned San Francisco station KGO showed columns of smoke billowing into the air above the Oakland hills near Interstate 580.

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Part of the interstate was temporarily closed in the area, the California Highway Patrol said.

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