Tag Archives: Oakland firestorm

Oakland Firestorm Anniversary: Events on Saturday, Photographer's Audio Diary

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Events on Saturday, from the Oakland Tribune: 9 a.m.: Reflection at Firestorm Tile Wall, Rockridge BART station. 10:30 a.m.: Remembrance at Gateway Emergency, Preparedness Exhibit Center at Tunnel Road and Caldecott Lane. Formal civic ceremony with leaders from Oakland, Berkeley … Continue reading »


Oakland Firestorm Anniversary: Archival Photos

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Today marks the 20th anniversary of the Oakland firestorm that killed 25 people and destroyed 3,800 residences. The catastrophe predated digital cameras, but that hasn't stopped the community from scanning and uploading photographs into Flickr. The California Emergency Management Agency … Continue reading »


Oakland Firestorm Anniversary: The Fight Over Eucalyptus Trees Continues

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Another tree, another controversy. Anyone around for the Oakland-Berkeley Hills fire remembers eucalyptus trees got a lot of blame for fueling the blaze. The problem with eucalyptus? One vegetation manager I spoke to called them "junky," meaning they spread lots … Continue reading »


Oakland Firestorm Anniversary: City's Interim Chief Recalls Hard Decisions, Act of Selflessness

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As part of KQED's coverage of the 20th anniversary of the Oakland firestorm, Rachel Dornhelm talked to Mark Hoffman, currently the city's Interim Fire Chief who in 1991 was a lieutenant on the front lines. The conversation occurred just above … Continue reading »


Oakland Firestorm Anniversary: Video, Photos, Original KQED News Broadcast

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On Oct 20, 1991, a fire that had started the previous day in the Berkeley Hills, north of the Caldecott Tunnel, flared up again and, aided by gusting winds, rapidly spread. From the Oakland Tribune today: The firestorm destroyed 790 … Continue reading »