Brush Fire On Island North Of Antioch Prompts Evacuations
ANTIOCH (CBS / AP / BCN) -- Fireboats and helicopters joined a battle to extinguish an out-of-control fire Tuesday that prompted the evacuation of Kimball Island.
The blaze had spread across at least 40 acres while engulfing one building and threatening others, Solano County fire dispatcher Robyn Rains said.
There were no known injuries in the fire, which was reported at about 3 p.m.
"It started as a 10-foot brush fire," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Josh Lemas. "With the wind increasing 5 knots, it kept spreading the fire."
Delta Fire Protection District crews have had difficulty getting to the blaze because the site is only accessible by boat. The Coast Guard was assisting and had evacuated four people from the island.
There are 20 buildings on the island just north of Antioch near the Contra Costa, Solano and Sacramento County borders, Rains said.
She did not know if the cause of the fire had been determined but said the area has been under a fire weather watch due to recent low humidity and gusting winds.
Three homes, several outbuildings and 40-50 acres were burned before Solano firefighters cleared the scene just before 9:30 p.m., a Solano fire dispatcher said.
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