A brush fire that scorched two acres of land in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills above the UC Berkeley campus was extinguished after coordinating multiple fire agencies yesterday evening. According to ABC7 News, the fire was reported just after 9:30 p.m. near Centennial Drive and Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Despite the potential for danger in an area dense with dry vegetation, officials stated that no one was injured and no buildings were threatened by the blaze.
The combined efforts of the Oakland, Berkeley, and Contra Costa County fire departments, alongside East Bay Regional Park District firefighters, contributed to halting the fire's advance. The Oakland Fire Department posted on X, "Just after 9pm, Oakland Fire joined units from @BerkeleyProFire, @EBRPD and @ContraCostaFire to stop forward progress and contain a vegetation fire near Centennial Drive & Grizzly Peak." The fire was declared under control shortly thereafter.
Just after 9pm, Oakland Fire joined units from @BerkeleyProFire, @EBRPD and @ContraCostaFire to stop forward progress and contain a vegetation fire near Centennial Drive & Grizzly Peak. The incident is under control. No homes were immediately threatened. Fire under investigation.
— Oakland Fire Department (CA) (@OaklandFireCA) July 2, 2024
While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, there are hints that it could have been started by illegal fireworks. ABC7 News reported finding what appeared to be a box of fireworks near the site of the fire. Authorities also received reports of illegal fireworks going off in the vicinity before the emergency response, though no individuals were located at the scene.
