30 years later: KTVU reporter recalls being trapped by Oakland Hills firestorm

My home was located directly across the canyon from where the fire started. The film crew was located at the Northern base of Caldecott Canyon which has only one outlet to the east and is where a large apartment complex, made of wood, was located. My home was two streets above this location on Charing Cross Road. I and my partner were at home at the time. What the video does not show is that the fire moved through the tops of the trees in an east to west direction. By the time the film crew has left the canyon Michael and I were already well under the forward front of the fire. Since there was no ground fire we were packing to leave but not as quickly as we should have. Officer Grubensky, who later died in the fire, stopped us and yelled to get the F@@k out of there. His strong language got our attention and I credit him with saving our lives. As we got in our cars (yes two cars, just one of the stupid things you do in a panic) our home was already engulfed in flames. Due to the lack of oxygen I had great difficulty getting my car started. The panic set in when we headed east on Charing Cross and had to merge with Buckingham Drive onto a one lane portion of Charing Cross. At this point I knew I was dead. Did I mention I was driving a convertible with the top down and a 175 pound unleashed dog in the back seat? It was raining fire and the dog went into full panic mode. The problem on our exit was a Jeep that had stalled and the woman driving wouldn't get out as it was her boyfriends car. A group of other drivers pulled her out and pushed the Jeep off the cliff. I don't blame her it was an insane situation, one you could never prepare for. Suddenly traffic started to move and as we entered Hiller Highlands, a dense condominium community, we were greeted by crowds of seemingly unaware but curious crowds. We yelled at them to leave but it got little attention. I drove for about a mile before I stopped seeing spot fires on the roadside. My home and business were lost at around 10:30 am that morning. In all 25 lost their lives many on Charing Cross. It's been 32 years and the PTSD from the fire has not completely been vanquished. I still become both panicky and frozen in place when there is a fire anywhere near me. Since I still live in California it's not an uncommon experience. If you see fire, take it seriously. Fire is much more unpredictable than you can imagine.

I remember the day well as it happened on a weekend. It was definitely speechless. It still is on the 30th anniversary.

I was on vacation from England and touring California. We arrived in SF on Saturday afternoon and were walking across the Golden gate bridge Sunday morning as the smoke started coming across the bay from Oakland. By the time we got back to our car the sun had been blotted out by the smoke. RIP to those that didn't make it.

I’m speechless. Goodness 😢😔.

I remember well. I took pics in the Mission District near Dolores Park that day. The light baked everything into a crimson red orange. Godfather light.

Eerie af I remember that day and night from Alameda at the marina...it was like a huge hilltop on fire burning lights through the night

Will you know. I don't remember. Because I was never there. Hopefully everybody safe. 30 years later. Glad to know that you remember a disaster. Least you got something to look forward to.

Happy Birthday Casey! 🎊🎉🎁

I was working at Walgreens and our light went in and out from the fire.

My aunt lives just north of Oakland and has been fighting to get all of the invasive eucalyptus trees and other dry fuels cut down (they’re super combustible) because it’s a matter of time before this happens again. She moves her entire house out to my mom’s every summer in case a fire hits…so she doesn’t lose any family heirlooms. Definitely not something I’d want to have to deal with. Just like I wouldn’t live in tornado alley, I would never live in California in such cramped, fire prone quarters

BFD and OFD did everything wrong that fate full day...FACT!

In my opinion and based on the videos I've seen they didn't move on that fire 🔥 quick enough they underestimated how quickly it could spread based off the videos I've seen think about it the problem started in Berkeley hills if they had been more serious about it they could have controlled and put out those wild fires shit they could have got el cerrito or other city fire departments involved in the effort so idk

I feel sorry for the animals

+

666 the devil rose that day

Really, he was right?! I'd say he was wrong. It did and does happen again. These reporters, I wonder... did they all take some serum that makes them blind to reality? What a sad profession, if you want to make "it big" you'll have to become a willing liar and put blinders on to go along with the script. If you want to really be a reporter, you'll be an outsider and likely not get work. That guy is lucky, he did it just as the truth was starting to be a curse.