It's a vital service meant to save lives. But how well did Alameda County's alert system work when the Oakland Hills fire broke out last week?

The wildfire that started Friday in the hills of Oakland is about 5 miles from where a 1991 fire burned 1,520 acres and killed 25 people.

Evacuees from Keller Fire in Oakland Hills return home after having dodged disaster 02:19. The Keller Fire in the East Oakland hills was 90% contained on Monday morning, fire offi

She was one of 500 residents evacuated as more than 200 firefighters from the Oakland Fire Department, CalFire and around the region battled the blaze through the night, reaching 50% containment by midmorning Saturday.

The Keller Fire in the Oakland Hills was 90% contained Monday morning as fire officials continued investigating what caused the blaze that prompted hundreds to evacuate over the weekend. The last remaining evacuation orders were lifted Sunday night for residents along Mountain Boulevard and Keller Avenue in the Caballo Hills neighborhood.