– Fire occurred on Saturday, August 2
– Reported just before 5 p.m. (reports also say just before 7 p.m. when crews responded)
– Third-alarm fire at 940 Reliez Station Lane, Lafayette
– Building was unoccupied
– No injuries reported
– Fire believed to have started inside and burned through the roof
– Deputy Fire Chief Charles Stark quoted on weather conditions and construction challenges
– Estate sold for $5.6 million in March 2026
– Built in 1940s for Henry J. Kaiser (1882-1967)
– Henry J. Kaiser was industrialist involved in Hoover Dam construction
Multiple fire crews responded to a third-alarm fire at the former Kaiser Estate in Lafayette on Saturday evening.
The fire department said just before 7 p.m. that crews responded to a third-alarm fire at the former Kaiser Estate at 940 Reliez Station Lane in Lafayette.
The fire was reported just before 5 p.m. and the building was unoccupied at the time.
Fire officials said they believe the blaze started inside the large structure and was primarily burning through the roof.
“Due to the weather conditions, the high heat, crews got spent pretty quickly,” said Deputy Fire Chief Charles Stark of the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. “Due to the construction type for the residence, it’s hard to get into the seat of the fire. So, we’ve been trying to get ahead of it and cut it off. It’s a very large structure. Right now, we’re still in the phases of trying to establish cutoff points on it.”
Firefighters struggled against the scale of the property.
There have been no reports of injuries, and the extent of the damage remains unknown.
Fire crews are expected to remain at the scene overnight to check for hot spots.
The estate carries significant history tied to American industrial power.
Henry John Kaiser was an American industrialist who became known for his shipbuilding and construction projects, then later for his involvement in fostering modern American health care.
In 1931 his firm was one of the prime contractors in building the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, and subsequently the Bonneville and Grand Coulee Dams on the Columbia River.
Built in the 1940’s as a residence for Henry J Kaiser, it is unquestionably one of the most unique and private in all of Lamorinda, and in the San Francisco East Bay area.
The property boasts a 14,000± sq. ft. residence with grand scale, timeless architecture, and a commanding presence.
The house sold for $5,600,000 on Mar 26.
The mansion featured expansive grounds and amenities befitting its industrialist heritage.
The primary 14,000 sq ft home on 7 acres centers around a beautiful courtyard and has fabulous expansive spaces for both formal and casual living. It includes a large workshop and multipe garages with room for 18 to 20 cars. This home features fabulous amenities, including an exercise room with dry and steam saunas, a detached guest house, a caretaker apartment, a pool with a 2-bathroom cabana, and an outdoor fireplace.
In the viral moment captured Saturday, the flames spread rapidly through the structure despite full firefighting efforts.
The property sat largely dormant after Kaiser’s death decades ago, passing through multiple hands before its recent sale. The estate’s architectural significance and ties to Kaiser’s role in major 20th-century infrastructure projects made the fire a notable loss for the region.
Fire officials characterized this as a developing story.