Firefighters battle at Least 2 suspicious brushfires near Martinez
MARTINEZ (CBS SF) -- Contra Costa County firefighters were busy overnight, extinguishing at least two suspicious blazes that ignited in the tinder-dry brush near Martinez.
Contra Costa Fire Battalion Chief Vito Impastato said an arson investigator was on the scene of the fires, attempting to determine their source.
One blaze erupted on the 680 southbound side in Martinez and another ignited minutes later near the Pacheco off-ramp to northbound 680.
"We have multiple sets, different locations that are somewhat close together," he said. "It's somewhat suspicious."
Fortunately, there was not much wind early Saturday, but the brush is extremely dry after months of drought conditions.
"It's early in the morning, it's still cool out," Impastato said. "But the grass is really dry already. Wildfire season has kicked off really early."
Impastato's crews were able to quickly contain the blazes to keep flames away from a nearby dog kennel complex.
"The crews were about to make a good stop," he said. "We threw a lot of resources at it, pretty quick. But this is how the season is going to be already."