OAKLAND -- A six-alarm fire that may have started at an apartment complex under construction in the lower Glenview neighborhood Wednesday afternoon jumped to six other buildings in a matter of minutes, requiring a response from all of the city's firefighters and resources. 

"At six alarms we're totally all maxed out in Oakland. We've called for help from other jurisdictions," Oakland Fire Chief Gerald Simon said. 

The fire, at MacArthur Boulevard and Beaumont Avenue, drew several dozen curious onlookers as soon as it started about 2:30 p.m. Many ran in panic as embers sparked a scorching blaze in a patch of trees that spread to a home at 1483 MacArthur. 

"It's terrible. The wind is up and it's blowing the embers around," bystander Douglas Harris said. "I hope nobody got hurt." 

Battalion Chief James Williams, the fire department spokesman, said one firefighter was injured when stairs he was working on collapsed and he fell 10 feet. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation. No residents were injured or killed, and one firefighter rescued four dogs. 

During the beginning stages of the fire, plumes of chestnut smoke could be seen from downtown Oakland. Visitors to Highland Hospital watched the blaze rapidly devour the skeleton of the apartment at MacArthur and Beaumont from their hillside perch a few blocks away. 

The curious crowd became wary as the fire jumped buildings and streets. Smoke blanketed the area, shutting out the sunlight. 

By 3:20 p.m. four structures were confirmed on fire -- two three-story apartment buildings under construction, one single-family residence, and a three-story apartment complex. Seventy-eight firefighters were on scene. 

By 3:30 firefighters confirmed five buildings had caught on fire. Then six, then seven. They finally brought the blaze under control about 4:05 p.m. and were assessing the damage late into the night. There were reports 15 people were made homeless. 

Selina and Sylvester Hastings did not grab any of their worldly possessions when they were ordered out of their apartment by police, but they did manage to scoop up their three cats and one dog. And they ushered the two neighbor boys -- alone and watching television while their mother worked -- out of the apartment. 

"We heard glass breaking and then we saw the fire," said Selina Hastings, clutching one of three cats while watching the blaze from the sidewalk outside her apartment. "Then we smelled smoke and looked next door, and the police officer said we needed to leave. ... We got our cats and dog and the kids next door and left." 

"I'm just hoping our house is OK," said Sylvester Hastings. 

Karim Ludewig was in his socks on the sidewalk sweating from the heat and, a little hyped from the excitement but thankful to be out of his apartment unscathed. 

"I was playing my GameBoy and I felt something burning my neck," the 12-year-old said. "I thought it was the sun, but then we saw the fire. Then the police came and told us to get out." 

On Beaumont Avenue, Dennis Collins sprayed down the roof of his apartment with a garden hose. The 39-year-old escaped with his keys, wallet and his father. "We were a little shaken, but we are OK," he said. 

Standing a block from her home on Excelsior and Brighton avenues, Susanna Villarreal and her husband Gabriel pointed to the plumes of smoke and said they saw the flames just beyond their backyard. 

I looked out the back window, and the flame was right there at my window, like a big wall of flame," Gabriel said. "My wife wanted to grab something, but I said for her to get out." 

Ignoring her husband, Susanna ran into the kitchen to grab milk for the toddler before fleeing, she said. 

Hooshi Ghassemi of Hooshi's Auto Service wet down his business before he saw flames in the trees behind it. 

"When it went back there I said 'I am not going to do anything with my tiny hose,'" he said. In the 16 years he has been in the neighborhood, Ghassemi said he has called firefighters to tackle four fires in the neighboring buildings. 

It looks like everyone got out safely, that's my primary concern," said Mark Cederborg, who owned a building that went up in flames. "I'll deal with the other issues later." 

The lower Glenview neighborhood where the fire occurred would not be included in the Oakland Wildfire Assessment District, which if approved by voters in December will pay for hills fire service slated to be cut next year, said Councilmember Jean Quan (Dimond- Laurel). 

The quick-moving fire is a reminder of what could happen in the hills should one home or business flare up during fire season, she said. 

"When chunks of wood fly out, they are big flying embers," she said. Quan sent a message to her email list warning Glenview area residents to water their roofs, just in case. 

The 1991 East Bay hills firestorm overwhelmed fire crews, burned 2,900 structures and killed 25 people. Fire officials warn that the Oakland hills are vulnerable against another such firestorm. 

Captain Simon said he does not yet know how the fire started and how it spread so quickly. He did blame the 35 mph winds for blowing embers around and noted that firefighters will monitor the area overnight. At least one family was displaced, and the American Red Cross offered shelter. 

Williams said fire officials will not have a damage estimate until today. 

The Oakland Wildfire Assessment District will be discussed Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall, One Frank Ogawa Plaza. 

Correspondent Ben Baron contributed to this report.