A smokey brushfire broke out in the Oakland Hills around 1:45 p.m. this afternoon. The fire was apparently started by fallen power lines on an access road by the freeway. The wires were knocked down when a vehicle crashed in to a telephone pole on Mountain Boulevard. Gusty winds threatened several homes nearby and caused some traffic delays on Highway 580.
Fire crews on the scene included one firefighting helicopter making water drops, but the Oakland Fire Department confirmed they had "a pretty good handle" on the fire by 2:20 this afternoon. No word yet on the driver's condition.
One more shot of the accident from the eye in the sky:
Update 3 p.m.: CBS Reports that some 6,700 customers are currently without power due to the lines knocked down in the car crash. Fire crews are still on the scene and a third alarm has been called, so maybe the Oakland FD didn't quite have a handle on it after all.
PG&E reports about 6,700 currently without power in Oakland due to car vs. pole. Crews still on scene of fire.cbsloc.al/LdW0Cx
— KCBS 740 AM/106.9 FM (@KCBSNews) June 8, 2012
Twitterer Matthai Kuruvila snagged a picture of the scene near Keller Ave and Mountain Boulevard:
Update 3:30 p.m.: Contra Costa Times reports that everything appears to be under control now, thanks to 15 fire engines, two battalion chiefs and two water bombing helicopters. Although the flames were within 30 feet of homes at one point, some evacuated residents were allowed to return just before 3:30 this afternoon. One 70-year-old woman told the Times that CHP officers "did a fabulous job" of getting everyone to safety.
A traffic alert remains in effect for the Edwards Ave exit off of Interstate 580. It should re-open by 6:30 p.m. tonight.
[KTVU]
[NBC]
[ContraCostaTimes]
