Firefighters Continue Struggle To Contain Marsh Fire
CLAYTON (CBS SF) -- Evacuations were still in effect early Thursday evening as crews made more progress on containment of the Marsh Fire in Contra Costa County.
At 6 p.m. Thursday, Cal Fire announced that the fire remained at 247 acres in size and was now 75 percent contained.
Firefighters battled flames hand-to-hand overnight and were able to halt the advance of the destructive Marsh Fire in the shadow of Mt. Diablo, but not before it had turned at least one home into a pile of ash and embers.
The fire -- which ignited and spread quickly in the deep terrain along Marsh Creek Road beginning at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday -- has destroyed at least one house and three other structures.
The flames continued to threaten 100 more homes. Evacuations remained in place for residents living on Marsh Creek Road from Morgan Territory Road to Gill Drive.
Fortunately, there have been no injuries reported.
Thursday afternoon, David and Kit Sondergeld were assessing the damage around their property.
Even though their house is still standing, the fire wiped out the infrastructure around it, including their water and electrical systems.
They also lost some out buildings.
"Our heart and soul are here. This is our nest. It's damaged," said David Sondergeld. "Your emotions, they go up, then they go down. We go in shock then we come out and think for a little bit."
They said they are thankful for the firefighters on the ground and in the air. Air tankers dropped tens of thousands of gallons water and retardant to suppress the fire.
"That and the man power, it absolutely saved the house. I think without that, it would have engulfed the house," said Kit Sondergeld.
Everything on the property, even their SUV, was covered in the pink stuff. Cal Fire Captain Amy Head said the retardant is extremely effective.
"It's really sticky and will coat on to the vegetation, therefore hopefully slowing the progress of the fire in order to get the ground resources in there," explained Head.
The Sondergelds said they are just glad they survived with their cat.
"I think we've got a pretty good perspective, we've got each other," said David Sondergeld, pausing to kiss his wife. "So that's most important. And everything else can be replaced."
Among those who were threatened by the flames were Duane and his wife, Andrea, who live on Marsh Creek Road.
"At one point there were 50 foot flames climbing the hill straight towards that (neighboring) house," Duane told KPIX 5. "It was pretty scary."
The fire did char their home, but firefighters were able to save it.
"Everything around the house burned," Andrea said. "I mean it's black all the way up to the house on all sides."
The couple did lose their chicken coop, but were thankful that they and their children were safe.
"I'm just happy to have a house," Andrea said.
The more than 100 firefighters engaged in battling the flames were aided overnight by cooler temperatures and calm winds. However, forecasters have predicted that temperatures would soar to near triple digits in the fire area by later in the day Thursday.
Head said the fire appears to have started near Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory Roads. She said the exact place and cause of origin was still under investigation.
Evacuation centers were opened at the Clayton Library at 6125 Clayton Road in Clayton and at the Brentwood Community Center at 35 Oak St. in Brentwood.