East Bay Hills Fire (Oakland-Berkely, CA - October 1991) » How The Fire Started

POINT OF ORIGIN
The East Bay Hills fire originated on the steep slope at the very end of Temescal Canyon. The canyon turns north from the portals of the Caldecott Tunnel, forming a V-shape that leads directly to Grizzly Peak, the highest point in the area at almost 1,500 feet. Gwin Tank, which is part of the East Bay Municipal Utilities District water system, sits at the top of this slope, near the intersection of Marlborough Terrace and Grizzly Peak Boulevard. The hilltop is occupied by a radio tower, which is used as a transmitter site for a radio station and for some public safety radio channels. The closest Oakland Fire Department companies have an approximate response time of 10 minutes to this location due to the steep hills and narrow roads.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19th
On Saturday, October 19, 1991, the weather was warm, clear, and dry, with no appreciable wind. At 1212 hours a brush fire was reported on the hillside above 7151 Buckingham Boulevard, on the end slope of Temescal Canyon. This is one of the steepest parts of the canyon, with a drop of approximately 450 feet between Marlborough Terrace and Buckingham Boulevard. The vegetation on the slope was mostly grass, with some brush and a few trees. The slope directly above the fire was too steep to build on, but there were structural exposures on Westmoorland Drive and Marlborough Terrace, a few hundred feet west of the fire. Additional structures were exposed below the fire, on Buckingham Boulevard.

The actual source of the ignition has not been determined. The fire originated on the slope behind a house on Buckingham and spread rapidly up the hill. In the calm air, the fire spread was directly up the slope and was visible for miles.

The 1st Alarm assignment included three engine companies and the Assistant Chief. Another Battalion Chief was in the area and also responded on the 1st Alarm. A 2nd Alarm was requested at 1219 hours, followed by the 3rd Alarm at 1221, and a 4th Alarm three minutes later. Oakland finally struck a 5th Alarm for this fire at 1248 hours. This brought a total response of 12 engine companies and two ladder companies from Oakland and two engine companies from the City of Berkeley, as well as three engines and four patrol units from the East Bay Regional Parks District. Companies from Berkeley, Piedmont, Alameda, and San Leandro covered OakIand stations during the fire.

Oakland notified the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) of a fire in the “threat zone,” which indicates that the fire could spread into CDF jurisdiction. CDF responded with a 1st Alarm assignment of four engine companies, one helitack unit, one private (contract) helicopter, and a Battalion Chief. The CDF engine companies were not used, but the helicopters were used to drop water on the fire to help stop its spread and then to quench hot spots on the steep slope. The East Bay Regional Parks District’s helicopter, Eagle 5, was used for aerial reconnaissance.

The Oakland Fire Department’s Command Post Vehicle was positioned at the off-ramp from Highway 24, just west of the Caldecott Tunnel entrance. This location provided an excellent view of the burning slope and the surrounding canyon. Command Officers established Divisions on both flanks and at the top of the hill to supervise operations.

The fire was attacked from the lower side by companies on Buckingham and Westmoorland and from above by companies on Marlborough Terrace. The strategic plan was to cut off any potential spread on the flanks and then to squeeze in on the head of the fire to stop the uphill spread. The tactics were successful and the fire was declared under control at 1339 hours. The fire area was limited to two acres, with no structural involvement, and it was stopped on the uphill slope, before reaching the top of the hill.

Overhaul of the fire took several hours and was complicated by the steep slope. While the helicopters dropped buckets full of water on the visible hot spots, hand crews worked to create a secure perimeter around the entire fire area. The hand crews worked the area until darkness made it too dangerous to work on the slope, and the last company did not leave the scene until 1841 hours. Before leaving, a Battalion Chief checked the area for any visible signs of hot spots and directed the companies to leave the overhaul hoselines in place on the slope. During the night, companies returned to the scene to look for hot spots, and no signs of smoke or flames were observed.

Speaking to reporters after the fire had been controlled, Oakland Fire Officers noted the tremendous fire potential that was present in the hills after five years of drought, several months with no rain, excessive quantities of dead brush caused by the previous winter’s freeze, and the lack of clearance between hillside homes and the natural fuels. They noted that the only factor that was not present that day was the wind -- on a windy day the same fire could have become a disaster.

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