7 Wind-Whipped Fires In Altamont Area Burn 500 Acres

ALAMEDA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- A series of seven wind-driven wildfires burning along the Alameda-Contra Costa county line has burned an estimated 500 acres but was 35 percent contained Wednesday night, according to Cal Fire.

The Grant Fire, as it is being referred to by Cal Fire was burning about seven miles east of the Altamont Pass.

According to the CalFire public information officer, the first call on the fire came in at about 1 p.m. with a report of two separate fires. The number quickly jumped up to seven fires within an hour, authorities said.

Wednesday afternoon they were burning in the area between Camino Diablo and the county line, according to Battalion Chief Ross Macumber with the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

The fires also scorched land in Alameda County in the vicinity of West Grant Line and Mountain House roads.

Winds in the area Wednesday evening were estimated at 30 to 40 mph, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Jonathan Cox said.

"The wind is really our biggest hazard," Cox said.

A couple of outbuildings have been destroyed, according to Cox. No one has been injured.

CHP said Mountain House Road and Grantline Road were completely closed to traffic, as was the Byron Highway between Hwy 4 and I-205.

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In:
• Altamont Pass
• Fire
• Wildfires
• Alameda County