**Wildfire Rages Through Oakland Hills, Prompting Evacuations and Road Closures**

A fast-moving vegetation fire erupted in the hills of Oakland, California, on Friday afternoon, fueled by critical fire conditions in the region's upper elevations. The blaze, which quickly spread to residential areas, resulted in significant damage and prompted evacuations.

The Oakland Fire Department reported that the fire ignited near the intersections of Interstate Highway 580, Mountain Boulevard, and Keller Avenue. By 1:50 p.m., just 20 minutes after it was reported, the fire had escalated to a three-alarm situation. A fourth alarm was called at 2:15 p.m., underscoring the severity of the blaze. Winds in the area were measured at 11 mph with gusts reaching up to 22 mph, further complicating firefighting efforts.

At least four structures were fully engulfed in flames near Mountain Boulevard and Maynard Avenue. The Caballo Hills neighborhood, located north of Highway 580, faced mandatory evacuations. Specific evacuation orders included homes along Campus Drive east of Stoneridge Court, all residences on Crystal Ridge Court, and properties on Altura Place and Rifle Lane. Burckhalter Elementary School was established as an evacuation center for displaced residents.

By 2:30 p.m., over 80 firefighters were on the scene, supported by Cal Fire's air and ground units. The fire had charred eight acres of land by 3 p.m. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) issued a severe traffic alert at 2:20 p.m. due to the fire's proximity to I-580, resulting in the closure of all westbound lanes. Firefighters worked to extinguish a spot fire along the highway, which may have been ignited by embers. One westbound lane reopened by 3:30 p.m., but there was no estimate for when the entire highway would be fully operational.

The Bay Area was under a Wind Advisory, with gusts expected to reach 50-65 mph in higher elevations. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning, highlighting the critically dry conditions. The fire's proximity to where a catastrophic firestorm occurred 33 years ago was a stark reminder of the potential for devastation. The 1991 firestorm, which reignited from a smoldering grass fire, engulfed the Oakland and Berkeley hills, resulting in 25 fatalities, 150 injuries, and the destruction of over 3,000 homes.

This is a developing story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.