Community members and first responders have gathered in the Oakland and Berkeley Hills to honour those killed in the 1991 East Bay Hills Firestorm, as the region marks the 35th anniversary of the disaster.
The wildfire tore through neighbourhoods on October 20, 1991, after strong winds rekindled embers from an earlier blaze near the Caldecott Tunnel. It killed 25 people and destroyed more than 3,000 homes across Oakland and Berkeley.
A commemoration was held at Gateway Garden, near the junction of Hiller Drive, Caldecott Lane and Tunnel Road. Speakers included Oakland Fire Department chief Damon Covington, former Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf and representatives from both cities.
The fire burned through about 1,600 acres and caused an estimated $1.5 billion in damage at the time. First responders were joined by residents and survivors in remembering the lives lost and the communities that were forced to rebuild.
Lessons from the Oakland Hills Firestorm
The disaster prompted closer co-operation between fire departments and local agencies. The Hills Emergency Forum was formed in 1993 and now brings together organisations including the Oakland and Berkeley fire departments, Cal Fire, the East Bay Municipal Utility District and the East Bay Regional Park District.
East Bay Municipal Utility District has released a nine-minute film marking the anniversary, featuring archive footage and interviews with fire safety officials. The district said it had since strengthened its emergency procedures, upgraded reservoirs and pumping facilities, improved hydrant inspections and expanded vegetation management across the watershed.
Scott Hill, an EBMUD ranger during the fire, said the experience had shaped his career and highlighted the need for residents in high-risk areas to remain prepared. The anniversary events have also included evacuation planning and wildfire safety sessions for local communities.
