As the fire continued to spread to the northwest, the huge wood
frame structure of the Claremont Hotel became a major concern. The
five story hotel, which is believed to be the second largest wood-frame
building in the United States, sits on a hillside overlooking the City of
Berkeley, at the mouth of Claremont Canyon. The concern was that, if the
hotel became involved, it would be a “conflagration breeder,” generating a
massive additional source of heat and flying brands that could ignite
hundreds of new spot fires in the flatland area. Between 1230 and 1300
hours, the fire had swept through Grandview Canyon and was threatening
to jump Tunnel Road, a few blocks south of the hotel. Flames were also
visible in the upper reaches of Claremont Canyon. A slight shift in the
wind would place the hotel directly in the path of the fire.
An Oakland ladder company and a Piedmont engine were the first
units assigned to protect the hotel, under the supervision of an Oakland
Captain designated as Division C. San Francisco Strike Team 2 was
assigned to this Division shortly after 1300 hours, and a defensive
perimeter was established along the rear of the hotel, utilizing a ladder
pipe and several master streams. The lines were supplied from the hotel’s
private water supply system. The brush and trees along the rear of the
hotel were wet down, and the lines were positioned for immediate
operation if the fire came down the hill. A second strike team was
assigned to Division C to ensure that this perimeter would be held.
With the lines in place to protect the hotel, the crews began to
extend handlines up the hill to Alvarado Road to try to stop the fire on the
streets above the hotel.
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