A video from the Oakland Fire Department shows flames from a fire that broke out in the Oakland HIlls Monday night, forcing an evacuation of homes in the area.
Media: Courtesy Oakland Fire Department / @OaklandFireLiveA fire fueled by winds burned multiple houses in the Oakland hills Monday night and into early Tuesday after apparently starting in an empty residence under construction and quickly spreading across dry hillsides, prompting evacuations, officials said.
The fire ignited around 11 p.m. Monday at a home being constructed in the 6800 block of Snake Road in the Montclair neighborhood, according to the Oakland Fire Department.
“Multiple homes and hillsides on fire upon arrival, embers raining down all over,” the first firefighters to arrive on scene reported.
An image from the Oakland Fire Department shows the view at Snake Road and Armour Drive during Monday night's fire.
An image from the Oakland Fire Department shows the view at Snake Road and Armour Drive during Monday night's fire.
Strong winds rapidly spread the fire, said Battalion Chief Dino Torres of the Oakland Fire Department.
“It looked like it was just raining fire when we got here,” Torres said from the scene. “The quick actions of the residents in noticing that there was a fire in the area and calling 911 got us up here quick. It worked our butts off.”
There were no immediate reports of injuries, and the cause of the fire was under investigation.
At about 6:30 a.m., Torres said the fire was 99 percent under control, but smoky conditions remained in the area.
He said one home was completely destroyed, while five others sustained heavy to light damage.
“We might be out here all day,” Torres said, adding that firefighters would remain on guard for hot spots and flare ups.
A video posted on Twitter by the Oakland Fire Department in the early stage of the blaze showed huge orange flames sweeping across dry brush and trees, and headed for homes.
About 50 houses along Colton Boulevard, Asilomar Circle, Armour Drive and Heartwood Drive were evacuated. The auditorium at Montclair Elementary School was opened as an evacuation center.
Initial 911 callers from the area that was burning reported a “fully involved (two -story) house under construction.”
Sarah Ravani, Jenna Lyons and Cynthia Dizikes are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com, jlyons@sfchronicle.com and cdizikes@sfchronicle.com Twiter: @SarRavani and @SophieHaigney and @cdizikes