Oakland Hills Firestorm

KTVU reporter Rob Roth reflects on covering the 1991 Oakland Hills fire. A firefighter who helped him and his photographer escape the flames later died trying to save someone else. Rob's daughter was born the next day.

[@austinmccoy9743]

Extremely powerful. Also fascinating to see the early footage of the fire before it exploded. Just today, I also watched early footage that I previously didn't know existed of the Camp Fire, of which I am a survivor. I hadn't known one of the fatalities from Oakland was actually a firefighter, all reports I've seen indicated only civilian fatalities. Thank you very much for showing this!

[@criah563]

What footage did you watch of the Camp Fire?

[@dereknguyen5165]

It started again on 10/18/2024 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@martinencinal3073]

wow... Very powerful.

[@essmhtvny165es]

Late October 1991

[@BytomGirl]

The day before we were driving to Tildon Park for a picnic and saw that helicopter flying and though, OMG, there must a fire near by. In the evening when we got home we saw on TV that the fire was put out and we breathed a sigh of relief. The next morning I was making breakfast and turned on the radio and they were talking about some homes burning near Coldecott tunnel and I thought, isn't it where they put out a fire yesterday? Then turned on the TV and saw the horror of it, they had no idea how fast it was spreading or what the extend of it was, When they were saying that about 50 homes were on fire, at that time it was probably about 500. The wind was unmerciful and it was very hot that day. We packed the car ready in case it got closer to us even though we were pretty far from it but the speed it was was spreading with, made us take no chances. Then wind started blowing towards Berkeley and the fire didn't get close to our neighborhood. All programs were pre-emptied on TV for 3 days as we watched the horror that was happening. Then when it was over and we drove down highway 13, hundreds of chimneys were linking it, it was the most chilling site I have ever seen, To 25 souls who lost their lives, RIP

[@quadale_dingle7127]

who’s watching in 1998

[@elgeneralxx]

I'm watching in 1999

[@YolandaTurner]

She is the Phoenix ... ❤

[@laurenSmith-bf4fc]

Ofd and bfc dropped the ball those 2 days