Fire map
A one-acre vegetation fire west of the Tilden Steam Train, that was first reported at 5:45 a.m., was extinguished by several fire departments in under an hour on Sunday August 16, 2015. Image: Google Maps
A one-acre vegetation fire west of the Tilden Steam Train, that was first reported at 5:45 a.m., was extinguished by several fire departments in under an hour on Sunday August 16, 2015. Image: Google Maps

At least five fire companies responded to a vegetation fire that broke out before sunrise in the Berkeley-Oakland hills Sunday.

According to Avery Webb, interim fire chief of the Berkeley Fire Department, its communications center received a report of a vegetation fire west of the Tilden Park Steam Train at 5:45 a.m. Sunday.

Berkeley Fire responded, along with fire companies from Oakland, Moraga/Orinda, East Bay Regional Parks, and Cal Fire.

Webb said the fire was estimated to be one acre in size. It was brought under control in less than an hour by the responding crews. At 10 a.m. Webb said the fire was considered to be 100% contained. However fire crews remained on scene to ensure complete extinguishment.

The cause of the fire is not known.

The location of the fire is not far to where a vegetation fire erupted on Oct. 19, 1991, a clear hot Saturday 24 years ago. On that day, firefighters believed they had succeeded in fully extinguishing the conflagration. However flames erupted again the following day, aided by strong winds, and the resulting blaze turned into one of the worst firestorms seen in the country — killing 25 people, destroying close to 4,000 dwellings, and burning a huge swath of Oakland and Berkeley.

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Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...