A five-alarm brush fire named the Keller Fire in Oakland, California, led to evacuation orders as it burned two homes on Friday. The fire started in a home on Mountain Avenue and spread to a grove of Eucalyptus trees, growing to 15 acres. Fire crews were working aggressively to fully extinguish the blaze, which was 50% contained as of Saturday morning. Oakland Fire Chief Damon Covington stated that the forward progress of the fire had been stopped, but there was still much work to be done.
Two homes were impacted by the flames, while dozens of others were threatened but not damaged. Evacuation orders were initially issued for Campus Drive and Crystal Ridge Court, before expanding to surrounding areas. Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao urged residents to evacuate immediately to protect their health. Delane Sims, whose home was damaged, expressed gratitude that her husband was able to escape safely after the fire caused a window to explode. The community came together to support those affected by the fire, with residents expressing relief that there were no injuries or fatalities. Efforts were ongoing to fully contain and extinguish the fire, with officials emphasizing the importance of safety and preparedness in the face of natural disasters.
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