With large crowds anticipated at several locations for the upcoming 4th of July holiday, the City of Oakland will implement temporary safety measures where many gather to enjoy festivities, including at Grizzly Peak, where people gather for a great view of Bay Area fireworks on the Fourth of July.
The City recognizes concerns about the events of June 19 at Lake Merritt, and had already been developing plans to safely facilitate large crowds at the lake for July 4. Those plans have been reinforced and will include strong safety staffing support from the Oakland Police Department, Oakland Fire Department, Oakland Public Works, the City of Oakland Department of Transportation (OakDOT), and Oakland Parks, Recreation, and Youth Development (OPRYD). The California Highway Patrol is also providing support.
• Lakeshore Blvd. will be closed to southbound traffic (the side abutting the lake) from MacArthur Blvd. to East 18th street.
• Bellevue will be closed to through traffic -- Children's Fairyland visitors will be able to come into Lakeside Park and park.
• El Embarcadero will be closed.
• Portions of Grand Avenue will be closed including the offramp from I-580.
Grizzly Peak: Road Closures in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone
The Oakland Fire and Police departments continue to work in partnership with neighboring jurisdictions on actions to mitigate fire risk in the Very High Fire Severity Zone and throughout the city during the Fourth of July holiday.
In response to significant regional concerns about fire safety and emergency vehicle access, Grizzly Peak Blvd. between Skyline Blvd. and Centennial Dr. will be closed to all thru automobile traffic along the following roads from 6 a.m. July 4th through 6 a.m. July 5th. Additionally, the following intersections will have electronic signage and/or personnel on hand to prevent thru traffic from entering:
• Grizzly Peak / Centennial Dr
• Grizzly Peak/ S Park Dr
• Grizzly Peak/ Lomas Cantada
• Grizzly Peak/ Claremont
• Grizzly Peak/ Skyline
The City of Oakland is coordinating with the City of Berkeley, East Bay Regional Parks, UC Berkeley, Moraga/Orinda Fire, Alameda County, Cal Fire, and Caltrans regarding the closure.
This corridor was closed over 4th of July for the last five years and delivered on the closures' safety goals: there have been no confirmed fires, and the closures have significantly reduced crowds and illegal parking at the lookout points, thus allowing first responders to efficiently travel along the ridgeline to respond to 911 calls.
Heat Advisory
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory effective 11am Tuesday to 8pm Saturday this week, for much of the Bay Area. While Oakland is not forecasted to experience emergency impacts, it is a good reminder to our community to take precautions and stay cool and healthy during hot weather. Some common tips include:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Stay in an air-conditioned room or out of the sun
- Check up on relatives and neighbors
- Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances
We know not all Oaklanders experience high temperatures the same; seniors, children, our unhoused neighbors, and people living in "heat islands" where there are fewer trees and more open asphalt and concrete space are all likely to need more support and precaution. To find more information and resources, including what City buildings are open and air-conditioned to help you beat the heat, please visit https://www.oaklandca.gov/resources/cool-emergency-respite-centers.