Oakland Hills firestorm

The Oakland Hills firestorm occurred on Sunday October 20, 1991. The fire is often referred to as the East Bay hills fire, since it struck the hills in both Oakland and Berkeley, California. The fire killed 25 people and injured 150. 2,449 single-family dwellings and 437 apartment and condominium units were destroyed by the fire. The economic loss has been estimated at $1.5 billion.

Among the contributing factors that lead to the firestorm were foehn winds (regionally called Diablo winds), which are hot dry winds that blow off shore (over land and then out to sea). Thick, dry vegetation close to many dwellings also contributed to the firestorm.