On Saturday, firefighters reported progress in combatting a fire in the San Francisco Bay Area that threatened residential areas and prompted evacuations due to dry and windy weather that increased the wildfire risk across California.

The Keller Fire, which ignited on Friday afternoon in the Oakland Hills, has damaged at least two homes and scorched approximately 15 acres. As of Saturday morning, it was 50% contained, according to Cal Fire. The Associated Press noted that roughly 500 residents were ordered to evacuate.

A stretch of Interstate 580, which traverses the Bay Area, was temporarily closed near the fire site but has since reopened. Fire Chief Damon Covington stated that crews remained active overnight and would continue their efforts on Saturday.

“We’re particularly concerned about the high temperatures and strong winds,” he mentioned during a morning update.

The blaze, intensified by fierce winds and dry conditions, is thought to have spread from a vegetation fire near I-580 to surrounding homes, then igniting eucalyptus trees, according to Covington. While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, it triggers memories of the devastating Oakland firestorm of 1991 that resulted in 25 fatalities and destroyed thousands of houses in the hills north of this latest fire.

Covington noted that weather conditions were reminiscent of those during the 1991 fire, but he emphasized that proactive measures and equipment were deployed to patrol the hills, ensuring that firefighters were prepared before the situation escalated.

“We’ve been ready for situations like this for several days,” he remarked.

Red Flag Warning Issued for Bay Area and Central Coast

California is facing multiple fires, with the National Weather Service issuing a “red flag warning” for dry and windy conditions in the Bay Area and nearby Central Coast through Saturday afternoon.

This warning indicates winds of at least 25 mph, with gusts reaching up to 50 mph. The local National Weather Service alerted that even stronger gusts could occur in higher terrains and ridges, alongside low humidity and temperatures in the upper 70s.

Late Friday, Pacific Gas and Electric took precautionary measures by shutting off power to around 17,500 customers across 21 counties and three tribes under a “Public Safety Power Shutoff” scheme aimed at preventing power lines from igniting wildfires.

Earlier in the week, officials had cautioned about the potential for “Diablo winds” sweeping through Northern California, creating favorable fire conditions. These dry winds, usually occurring in fall, blow from inland areas toward the Pacific Coast and are named after the Diablo Range situated east of Oakland.

Santa Ana Winds Forecast in Southern California

The counterpart to the Diablo winds in Southern California are the seasonal Santa Ana winds, bringing hot, dry air from the desert regions to the Pacific Coast. The weather service in Los Angeles reported that these winds are currently in “full swing.”

These winds, particularly potent during hot fall conditions, can ignite wildfires in the region. Gusts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties are anticipated to hit 25-40 mph, with potential gusts reaching 50 mph, especially in valley hills and mountain summits, according to warnings from the weather service.

Officials indicated that the red flag warning for Southern California, active through Saturday afternoon, is not expected to be extended.

Next week, California is predicted to experience higher temperatures, maintaining the dry conditions typical of peak wildfire season, as noted by Bob Larson, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.

“It won’t take long for the situation to flare up again,” he commented to YSL News. “The wildfire season is certainly not over yet.”

(This story has been updated with new details.)