DATE: 03/18/2014
TIME OF ALARM: 22:59
TYPE OF ALARM: Residential Structure Fire
LOCATION: 16 Cedarbrook Pl. Pittsburg
RESPONSE: 3 Engines, 2 Ladder Trucks, 1 Battalion Chief, 1 Ambulance, and a Safety Officer
ASSISTING AGENCIES: American Medical Response, Pittsburg PD, Red Cross, PG&E, & Animal Control
TOTAL FIRE PERSONNEL AT SCENE: 17

Summary:

Contra Costa Fire Units from Pittsburg, Antioch, and Pittsburg responded to a residential structure fire at 16 Cedarbrook Pl. Engine 85 (Pittsburg) arrived at scene and reported smoke showing from the front door and roof of a 1 story home. The 5 occupants of the home were able to escape prior to our arrival. An ambulance was dispatched for one of the occupants who sustained injuries as a result of trying to fight the fire. Crews initiated an offensive strategy of fire attack, search, and horizontal ventilation. The fire was confined to the room of origin with significant smoke damage throughout the home. Firefighters located and removed a dog during search operations. Unfortunately, the dog could not be revived. The injured fire victim was transported to Sutter Delta Emergency Room by AMR Ambulance. There were no Firefighter Injuries. The family was provided with housing assistance from the American Red Cross. The cause of this fire is under investigation.

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DATE: 03/18/2014
TIME OF ALARM: 07:59
TYPE OF ALARM: Fire Alarm with sprinkler activation
LOCATION: 1780 Chester Dr. Pittsburg
RESPONSE: 1 Quint, 1 Engine, 1 Battalion Chief, and a Fire Investigator
ASSISTING AGENCIES: American Medical Response
TOTAL FIRE PERSONNEL AT SCENE: 8

Summary:

Quint 84 (Pittsburg) responded to a reported Fire Alarm due to water flow at the Columbia Park Manor Senior Apartments in Pittsburg. Upon arrival, the crew found significant smoke and a fire sprinkler flowing in a ground floor apartment unit. The crew evacuated the sole occupant of the apartment and requested additional resources. Engine 85 (Pittsburg), Battalion 8 (Pittsburg), and an AMR ambulance responded as additional resources. The occupant sustained minor injuries due to the fire. The resident was treated by Fire District Paramedics and was transported to a local Hospital by AMR ambulance. Firefighters confirmed the fire was extinguished, ventilated smoke, and controlled the water flow from the fire sprinkler. The fire involved a chair and contents in the living room area. This fire was quickly contained and mostly extinguished by a single fire sprinkler. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Columbia Park Senior Apartments is a large two story multi-family dwelling with over 200 residents. The fire alarm and sprinkler system operated as designed and averted what would have been a certain tragedy. Despite the effectiveness of the fire sprinkler, the small fire produced a large amount of toxic smoke that impacted the apartment unit and the common hallway. With the exception of the unit involved, all residents were able to return to their apartments after a brief evacuation.

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At 1:10 am this morning Contra Costa County Fire Protection District units responded to the report of a roof on fire at 2610 Tampico Drive in Pittsburg. Our first arriving unit found the attic and second floor of a two story home completely engulfed in fire. Defensive tactics were immediately employed to prevent the houses on either side from catching fire. Initial attempts to enter the house to search for occupants were thwarted by roof and ceiling collapse. A second alarm was requested to bring enough firefighters to the scene to safely control the situation. Large hose streams were employed to knock down the intensity of the fire to allow fire crews to get inside and ultimately bring the fire under control after approximately eighty minutes.

During our interior operations it was discovered that the house was being used for an illegal marijuana grow operation. Illegal electrical circuitry and wiring for the grow operation is believed to be the most likely cause of the fire; however an investigation is underway by the Fire District’s Fire Investigation Unit in conjunction with Pittsburg PD.

Five engines, three ladder trucks, two battalion chiefs, one safety officer, one information officer and one fire investigator were assigned to assist bringing this incident under control. A total of 35 firefighters from Pittsburg, Antioch, Bay Point, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, and Pacheco were needed to control this fire. American Medical Response, Pittsburg PD, and PG&E assisted during the fire. No injuries were reported and the home was unoccupied. Fire investigators were still processing the crime scene this morning and the investigation is ongoing.

The house was a total loss with damages estimated at $400,000. The house, built in late 2012, was equipped with residential fire sprinklers however the water supply to the home was shut off at the valve so the fire sprinklers were helpless in controlling this fire.

Hash oil labs and marijuana grow operations in single family dwellings are becoming a common occurrence throughout Contra Costa County with at least a dozen fires occurring within the last six to nine months. These illegal operations pose a threat not only to the community, but also to the responding firefighters due to the presence of illegal wiring, bars on windows, and other modifications made to the structure to accommodate the illegal operations. Fire investigators and other law enforcement agencies request that people be aware of and report anything suspicious in their neighborhood, including vacant or unoccupied homes with bars recently installed on windows and a lack of any sign of people living in the house, unknown people coming and going at unusual hours, or aluminum foil or other unusual window coverings in an unoccupied house.

Media Contact:
Fire Investigator Vic Massenkoff
925-383-5034

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A two alarm fire claimed the life of a Walnut Creek resident late Friday night.

The Contra Costa County Fire Protection District was dispatched to a reported fire in a two story residential dwelling at 190 Hilltop Crescent in the unincorporated area of Walnut Creek at approximately 9:38 pm on Friday, January 10th. Fire crews arrived at the residence within 8 minutes and reported heavy smoke and fire coming from the second floor of the home. Crews learned of the potential rescue while responding to the fire and initiated a search and rescue operation shortly after their arrival. After a search of the structure, firefighters located the body of 62 year old Charles MacDonald. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner will conduct an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

The fire was brought under control within 30 minutes. Approximately 35 firefighters from Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Concord, and the San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District helped to control the blaze. Damage is estimated at $220,000.
No firefighters or other occupants of the home were injured. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Fire District reminds homeowners to install, test, and maintain smoke alarms throughout their home. Smoke alarms should be located in every bedroom, in the hall leading to each sleeping area, and at least one smoke alarm should be installed on each level of the home.

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