Firefighters in the San Francisco Bay Area made progress in containing the Keller Fire in the Oakland Hills, which began on Friday afternoon and destroyed at least two homes. The fire, which burned about 15 acres, was at 50% containment and about 500 people were evacuated from their homes. Part of Interstate 580 had to be temporarily closed but was later reopened. The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.
California is facing several fires as dry and gusty conditions have raised the risk of wildfires. A “red flag warning” was issued for the Bay Area and Central Coast, with winds of at least 25 mph and gusts up to 50 mph expected. Pacific Gas and Electric turned off power for about 17,500 customers across 21 counties and three tribes to prevent power lines from sparking wildfires.
In Northern California, officials warned about the Diablo winds sweeping across the region, which could create fire-friendly conditions. The dry winds move from inland areas to the Pacific Coast, with temperatures in the high 70s and low humidity. In Southern California, the Santa Ana winds were in full swing, blowing hot, dry air from desert areas to the coast. Gusts in Los Angeles and Ventura counties could reach 25-40 mph and up to 50 mph in valley hills and mountain peaks.
While the red flag warning in Southern California is expected to expire on Saturday afternoon, officials remain vigilant as the risk of wildfires remains high.
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