Grass Fire That Burned Near Rodeo Tank Farm Along I-80 50% Contained

RODEA (CBS SF) -- Cal Fire and Contra Costa Fire units have reached 50 percent containment on a grass fire that burned close to a Rodeo tank farm Monday afternoon east of I-80, according to fire officials.

The Cal Fire SCU Twitter account posted that fire crews were at the scene of the fire in Rodeo near the California Street exit at 3 p.m. Firefighters were reporting the fire was growing at a moderate rate of spread.

The fire started at around 2 p.m. as two smaller fires that merged together. A third alarm has been called by fire officials.

Contra Costa County Fire reported that the fire was burning between the Cummings Skyway and Willow and had already consumed 60 acres as of shortly after 3 p.m. Cummings Skyway was closed by the fire.

Chopper 5 footage showed flames burning in the area around the Phillps 66 fuel-storage tank farm in Rodeo.

Contra Costa Fire officials later said the fire was no longer presenting a threat to the tank farm or homes in the area.

"The good news is it burned past all that petroleum industry infrastructure there along the east side of Interstate 80," said Contra Costa Fire Public Information Officer Steve Hill. "They burned past all the homes there on the north side of Hercules and aren't a threat to either one of those areas right now."

As of about 4:40 p.m., Cal Fire officials said the so-called California Fire had grown to 150 acres, but that forward spread of the fire had been stopped. The fire was 50 percent contained.

As of around 7 p.m., Cal Fire was reporting the fire remained 50 percent contained at approximately 225 acres. No structures were involved and no injuries were reported, fire officials said.

Crews will remain on the scene into the evening.

In:
• Cal Fire
• I-80
• Wildfires