Today is the 30th anniversary of the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm, one of California’s deadliest wildfire in nearly 60 years. The fire killed 25 people, destroyed more than 3,000 homes and caused $1.68 billion in property damage in Oakland and Berkeley. In this video, originally created for the 20th anniversary, staff photographer Karl Mondon reflects on covering the tragedy. At the time, Mondon was working for the Contra Costa Times. The tragedy hit close to home as one of his co-workers, Lucy Mantz, was one of 25 who perished in the fire.

Two residents engage in a vain attempt to save a home on Contra Costa Road as a wall of fame sweeps toward them from Lake Temescal during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 
A lone firefighter runs past the devastation of Margarido Drive during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. late Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff Archives) 
Badly overmatched, an Oakland resident faces with a garden hose faces a wall of flame on Golden Gate Ave, during a firestorm in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 
Citizens helped overmatched firefighters carry a hose on Contra Costa Road during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 

A lone firefighter walks down the devastation of Margarido Drive during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. late Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff)

Fire begins to consume homes beyond a play structure on Buena Vista Avenue off the Belalp stairway during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 
A bicycle on Contra Costa Road is consume by flames during the firestorm in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 
A vintage car and an abandoned shovel remain in the driveway of a destroyed home at 6100 Contra Costa Road after the firestorm passe in Oakland, Calif. Sunday Oct. 20, 1991. (Karl Mondon/Staff) 

Source: www.mercurynews.com