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Grass Fire Threatens Homes in Martinez
August 23rd, 2012This morning at 11:27 a grass and brush fire was reported on the hillside behind Alhambra High School in Martinez. A dark column of smoke could be seen from several miles away and on their arrival, crews found 1/2 acre of grass and brush burning adjacent to some homes on C-Street. A second alarm was requested to manage the fire and protect the threatened homes. A total of seven engines, two battalion chiefs, a dozer and a public information officer responded to the scene from Martinez, Pleasant Hill, and Concord. Automatic aid was provided from the Pinole and Rodeo-Hercules fire agencies.
Firefighters eventually contained the fire to two acres of vegetation and a storage shed that was destroyed. Damage to the shed, the contents of the shed and the fence were estimated at $10,000. Firefighters prevented any other structures from being damaged in the fire and no citizen or firefighter injuries reported.
This fire is a good reminder for homeowners living in the wildland-urban interface, the area where homes meet dry grass and brush, to create a defensible space of at least 100 feet around their home. The defensible space should be free of flammable vegetation, dry grass and weeds, to allow firefighters to defend your home in case of a wildland fire. For more information on defensible space, visit our website www.cccfpd.org
