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Fireworks Spark 2-Alarm Fire In Oakland Hills

OAKLAND (CBS SF) -- Fire officials say fireworks sparked a brush fire in the Oakland hills.

Battalion Chief James Bowron of the Oakland Fire department says the fire broke out Saturday afternoon near a city park trail, not far from the Chabot Space and Science Center.

The fire, burning in the vicinity of 5675 Castle Drive, was upgraded to two alarms, according to the Oakland Fire Department.

It was first reported at 3:50 p.m. and upgraded at 4:04 p.m., fire dispatchers said.

The blaze grew to 3 acres and threatened two homes near Joaquin Miller Park before firefighters contained it. It sent a large plume of smoke that could be seen miles away.

Investigators found remnants of fireworks near where the fire started.

The hillside area in the northern part of Oakland was devastated by a firestorm in 1991 that killed 25 people and destroyed more than 3,000 homes and apartment units.

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