Remaining evacuated residents in Oakland Hills fire allowed back home Sunday night

The Keller Fire in the Caballo Hills area of East Oakland had burned 15 acres and is 85% contained on Sunday night.

ByAnser Hassan

Monday, October 21, 2024

Remaining residents return home following Oakland Hills fire

Remaining evacuation orders for the Keller Fire in the Caballo Hills area of East Oakland were fully lifted Sunday night, according to the fire department.

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Just after 8 p.m. on Sunday, one of the last Oakland fire engines wrapped up more than 48 hours after a wildfire ignited a hillside in Oakland. And all evacuation orders lifted.

The fire is now contained, Oakland Fire spokesperson Michael Hunt said Sunday at 6:30 p.m., but crews will remain overnight and into Monday.

Fifty personnel from the Oakland Fire Department and Cal Fire were at the scene of the fire Sunday morning to fully extinguish hot spots and clear hazardous vegetation.

PG&E will continue to restore power to affected areas, Hunt said.

Keidaw Kobbah-Schor and her daughter walked around their house before being allowed back in, reflecting on the past 48 hours -- and those in the neighborhood who helped save her family.

PREVIOUS STORY: More residents return home following Oakland Hills fire after most evacuation orders lifted

"They were the ones who happened to go outside and saw the flames and said, 'Get out! Get out!' Yeah, it's kind of scary to think about," said Kobbah-Schor, who has lived in the house for the past five years.

Her home is across the street from the house that burned in the fire. She is thankful her property was untouched. But she says it's a tough homecoming.

"You hear about when people's homes are burglarized. Or things like that happen. You feel invaded. I'm just going to try and establish a sense of normalcy for my daughter, and try to take it down a couple of notches. You know, 'cause we are still in that fight-reaction sort of mode right now. Just try to chill," she said.

On Sunday evening, Oakland fire officials announced that the operation was a success. And that the remaining 43 homes that were still under an evacuation order could now to return home as well.

The fire began Friday afternoon along westbound I-580. It quickly spread to the hillside, pushed along by the strong winds, burning one home. Fire officials say 15 acres burned.

At a Saturday evening news briefing, Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington said the aerial assault is what stopped the fire from reaching the neighborhoods atop of the ridge.

"The terrain is so steep, it would have taken us a long time to get foot resources up to those areas. And because that canopy is so thick, really without air resources, we might not have been able to catch up with the fire before it reached the ridge and got to the homes," he said.

Forty-eight hours later, Kobbah-Schor says she has a lot to reflect on: Neighbors watering down roofs. Neighbors screaming to get everyone to evacuate. Neighbors who help protect her and her family. She says she needs time to process what happened and figure out how to move forward.

"I just want to sit down for like 20 minutes and then try to decide what's next," said Kobbah-Schor.

The smell of smoke in the area of the fire will continue for the next several days, Hunt said, but does not necessarily indicate an active fire.

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

Video shows the intense moments as the fire spread quickly near I-580 in the Oakland Hills, burning dangerously close to homes.

"Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report fires to 911," said Hunt in a statement, "but do not need to panic if they smell lingering smoke odors."

The fire is currently 85% contained as of Sunday night, according to CAL FIRE. At least 15 acres burned.

There is still no word still no update as to what may have caused the fire. But Covington says arson investigators are using license plate readers and cameras along I-580 to help determine how the fire may have started.

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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