25 years later: honoring the Oakland hills firestorm
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - This month marks the 25th anniversary of the firestorm that raged through the Oakland Berkeley hills.
25 people died, 150 were injured, and more than 3,000 homes were lost.
There are many events throughout October to remember the victims and the huge fire.
Later this morning, the cities of Oakland and Berkeley, along with BART, will honor the victims.
The plaque carrying their names will be rededicated in a ceremony at the Rockridge BART station.
The ceremony will include a reading of the names and bell-ringing.
The fire started on October 19th as a small fire near the Caldecott Tunnel. It re-ignited and overwhelmed fire crews the next day.
High winds, communication problems, and power outages complicated the work of firefighters.
The flames spread quickly, making it difficult for people living in the hills to get down the narrow roads to safety.
Some victims were trapped while trying to escape.