In December 1943, winds reached speeds of up to 75 mph, sparking numerous fires in the hills and the East Bay. There were at least 10 brush and grass fires reported all over Northern California.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
The fire in the Oakland hills started near Broadway Terrace and Skyline, in the area above the Broadway Tunnel (Caldecott Tunnel). There was also a fire on Snake Road.
The smell of burning eucalyptus hung over the city for hours
Oakland Tribune Dec 09, 1943
The fire started just after midnight and burned for about 3 hours. The fire was most likely started by downed wires knocked down by gale-force winds.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
The civilian defense police knocked on doors to tell the residents of Broadway Terrace, Upper Montclair, and Piedmont Pines to evacuate.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Half the city’s firefighting equipment was rushed to the Broadway Terrace area.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
A total of 37 alarms were called between midnight and 8 a.m., and all off-duty firemen and police were ordered to stand by.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Few injuries were reported.
Wind and Fires Wreak Havoc
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Oakland’s garbage disposal plant on Davis Street in San Leandro was destroyed.
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Oakland Tribune Dec 9, 1943
Fire destroyed the garbage facility at the end of Davis Street
The fire bore a striking resemblance to the disastrous 1923 Berkeley fire, which swept from the hills, destroyed 600 buildings, and leaving 4000 homeless.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
The fire started at 11am and was under control by 2:30 pm and officially out by 4pm.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
More than 200 firemen from the Oakland and San Leandro fought the fire for over four hours with the help of the residents who lived in the area. At times the fire came within feet of homes and rained sparks on their roofs. The damage was held to the loss of two houses, brush and oak trees.
From noon until 2pm the battle was a see-saw affair
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
Weekend Warriors
SF Examiner October 16, 1960
For the residents, it was a battle to the death. They stood of roofs and garages pointing hoses with little pressure behind them at the walls of flame, which roared through the brush and oak trees.
In the hills above, Leona Street flames roared 50 feet into the air and came within that distance of homes. At one point, police advised people to advise the residents on Leona Street, Mountain Blvd, and Mountain View Avenue to evacuate.
There were unconfirmed reports of two boys playing with matches in the quarry area just before the fire started.
Oakland Tribune October 16, 1960
At the time, the winds gusted 45 mile-per-hour, which spread the fire across Mountain Blvd. but quick work by firemen and homeowners stopped the fire from spreading in that direction.
More than 100 homes were endangered during the day. Most were in the $30,000 bracket.
The Homes
6384 Mountain Blvd – destroyed
6434 Mountain Blvd – destroyed
The home at 6434 Mountain Blvd belonged to William Crecque, and 6384 Mountain Blvd belonged to Charles Suggs.
Wow, the above headline is sensational at its best.
A fast-moving brush fire that destroyed at least four homes in Oakland threatened at least 50 more homes in the area of Pine Needle Road and Upper Broadway Terrace. This was on September 25, 1937.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
The photo below was taken at the height of the blaze, but before the fire jumped Tunnel Road.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Families Flee
Oakland’s civilian defense police knocked on doors to tell the residents of Broadway Terrace, Upper Montclair, and Piedmont Pines to evacuate.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Their families fled their homes in fear; others who sought to save their belongings were ordered out by the firefighters.
Big Trees Burn
The fire started close to the home of Police Inspector Jesse Jackson at 6019 Pinewood Road at around 3 pm on September 25, 1937, possibly due to someone burning trash in their yard.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
During the first six hours, the fire had burned across the western edge of the Pinehaven district, up Broadway Terrace to a point just below Skyline Blvd., and thenback down another canyon to the west.
SF Chronicle Sept 26, 1937
Flames burned through acre upon acre of brush and climbed up into the tops of pine and eucalyptus trees.
Hoselines Burned
Several hundred feet of hose laid across brush to ease the link from the pumps to the fire area were destroyed by flames. Lack of water was a problem; they had used up all the water in the reservoirs (tanks) in the immediate area.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
The abnormally high temperature, combined with the heat of the flames, made it difficult to fight the fire.
Oakland Post Enquirer, Sept 27, 1937
Eyewitness Accounts
C.F. Humphrey – 13025 Broadway Terrace
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Mrs. Marguerite Risley – 6493 Farralone Way
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Homes Lost or Damaged
Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Homes Destroyed
6142 Ruthland Road
6539 Gwin Road
15030 Broadway Terrace
“The photo at left shows the flames encircling the little summer home Ted Gould on Broadway Terrace. A few minutes later it had been engulfed.” Oakland Tribune, Sept 26, 1937
Homes Damaged
16060 Broadway Terrace
17014 Broadway Terrace
17044 Broadway Terrace
17050 Broadway Terrace
6142 Pinewood Road
Sept 26, 1937
Sept 26, 1937
Arrest
The fire started when a “backyard bonfire” got out of control. An Oakland music teacher was arrested the Monday after the fire for burning trash in his home at 6064 Mountain Blvd. He stated the fire got out of hand and spread up the canyon towards Skyline Blvd.
Oakland Tribune, Sept 28, 1937
The music teacher was charged with a misdemeanor and was freed on $100 bail after explaining to the court that he did not know he needed a permit. He also said, “a sudden gust of wind spread the fire.”
Later, the court suspended his sentence and the $100 fine, as it did not believe he had set the fire intentionally, but rather due to carelessness. The teacher was put on probation for 180 days.
1929 Fire
There was a fire in November 1929 in the same area. Some of the same homes were damaged at that time. The Powers home at 6142 Ruthland Road was damaged in 1929, only to be destroyed by fire in 1937. The Albright home at 16060 Broadway Terrace was damaged in both fires.
The fire started in the Redwood Road area and raced through to Sequoia Park (Joaquin Miller Park), down Dimond Canyon, and spread into Shepard Canyon.
Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1933
The fire, which began around 7 am on November 13, 1933, swept through the East Oakland Hills, burning a man to death, injuring two others, and destroying at least a dozen homes. It was under control by 2 pm.
The municipal zoo in Sequoia Park (now Joaquin Miller Park) was surrounded by a ring of flames as the fire approached the animal cages. The zookeepers were preparing to shoot the animals, but the fire stopped just 100 yards from the cages.
‘The Abbey’ is Spared
The flames spread through the homestead of the late Joaquin Miller and destroyed the home of Miller’s late mother, which was occupied by his widow, who was 83. Many of her treasures were lost, but she escaped. The historic Abbey was saved!
Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1933
Shift in Wind
At 9:20 a.m., the fire approached the Sequoia Riding Club at 2923 Mountain Blvd. The stable grooms led the frightened horses through the smoke to safety, and a shift in the wind saved the stables.
Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1933
Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1933
Mrs. Abbie L. Miller, widow of Joaquin Miller, with her niece
Carmela Ward and a couple of the 60 horses she rescued.
Juanita Miller helping fight the fire
Oakland Tribune Nov 13, 1933
Removing the body of Wm J. La Marr, who burned to death
All that was left of one hillside home
Schoolboys who went to class to fight the flames along Mountain Blvd
