2-Alarm Fire Along Hwy 24 In Orinda Burns 25 Acres
ORINDA (CBS SF) -- A 25-acre grass fire that was sparked by a car on the side of Highway 24 in Orinda Monday afternoon has been 75 percent contained, according to Cal Fire.
The car fire was initially reported at 12:57 p.m. involving a sedan that had engine problems on the right-hand shoulder of westbound Highway 24 near the Wilder Road on-ramp. The flames then spread to the nearby grass and hillside, CHP Officer Brandon Correia said.
The Contra Costa County professional firefighters union Twitter account first posted about the fire shortly after 1 p.m.
.@ContraCostaFire units assisting w/vegetation fire w/ @Moraga_OrindaFD / Hwy 24 @ Fish Ranch / #Orinda / IC reports grass/brush steep slope
— CCC Firefighters (@CCCFirefighters) June 5, 2017
In addition to Contra Costa Fire, units from the Moraga-Orinda Fire Department, CalFire and the East Bay Regional Parks District Fire Department were also responding.
Photos sent by KPIX 5 viewer Stacey Frost showed the fire was started by a car that was completely engulfed in flames along the side of the freeway. Additional photos showed at least two westbound lanes were closed to accommodate fire units.
Shortly before 1:30 p.m., firefighters called a second alarm. Authorities said no structures were being threatened, but the fire was producing heavy smoke across Highway 24 near the Caldecott Tunnel.
UPDATE / #Orinda / #FishIC requesting a second alarm vegetation fire response / no structures threatened at this time
— CCC Firefighters (@CCCFirefighters) June 5, 2017
CalFire was executing air support drops of flame retardant chemicals on the fire. While there was still smoke, shortly before 2 p.m. fire crews appeared to be getting the upper hand on the fire.
Cal Fire officials said on Twitter shortly after 3 p.m. that the blaze's "forward progress has been stopped" by fire crews.
The response to the fire has shut down the three right westbound lanes of Highway 24. There is no estimate for when the lanes will reopen, Correia said.
No injuries have been reported in connection with the fire, he said.