Busy day for fires…..

Fire crews were kept busy this afternoon with two separate working fires within 90 minutes of each other.

The first fire was dispatched at 12:15 pm as a reported grass fire in the area of Wedgewood Drive and Range Road in the City of Pittsburg. The first arriving unit reported fire involving cypress trees between two homes. Upon further investigation the first in crew reported the fire had extended to both of the homes and requested a second alarm. The fire was burning on the exterior of one home and extended into the attic of the second home. The fire was under control within 20 minutes of arrival. Extensive overhaul and salvage of the homes was required and crews remained on scene for approximately 2 hours. Five residents were assisted with temporary housing and prescription medication replacement. Damage to one home was estimated at $30,000 to the structure and $5,000 to contents while the second home had heavy damage to the attic and contents and damage estimates are $100,000 to the structure and $40,000 to the contents. Fire investigators determined the fire started in the area of an outbuilding and extended to the cypress trees. Units from Concord, Antioch, Pittsburg and Pacheco for a total of 7 engines, 2 ladder trucks, 1 breathing support, 2 Battalion Chiefs and 1 Fire Investigator responded to the incident. During the incident, engines from Martinez and Walnut Creek provided station coverage in the area. No injuries to citizens or district personnel were reported in this fire.

The second fire of the afternoon was dispatched just after 1:30 pm as a grass fire near the intersection of Condit Road and Pleasant Hill Road in Lafayette. On arrival fire crews found the fire rapidly spreading up a steep hill threatening homes on Stow Lane. The fire progressed up the steep hillside into heavy brush and dense poison oak. Five engines and one ladder truck responded to the scene from Lafayette and Walnut Creek, making an attack and stopping the head of the fire just before it reached the homes at the top of the hill on Stow Lane. The fire consumed two acres and was likely started by a power line that dropped from a blown transformer. No citizen injuries were reported however a firefighter was transported to John Muir Medical Center to be treated for non-life threatening injuries. He is in good spirits and hopes to be released from the hospital tomorrow.

In total, more than 17 units were committed to these two fires for fire suppression and station coverage in Pittsburg and Antioch. “The ability to respond to and successfully control multiple fire incidents and to provide station coverage for our communities at the same time is due to the Fire District’s current ability to maintain staffing at 28 fire stations. Today, these two fires demonstrated our ability to provide significant resources to multiple communities for multiple fire incidents,” said Fire Marshal Lewis Broschard. “If fire stations are closed in the future, our ability to deal with multiple incidents or large fires will be greatly diminished; increasing the likelihood of increased property loss or injury as a result,” he added.

MEDIA CONTACT: Lewis Broschard, Fire Marshal
925-383-5017

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