UPDATE: Crews contain 19-acre grass fire in Pittsburg
PITTSBURG -- Fire crews stopped a brush fire that burned right up to people's back doors in Pittsburg on Tuesday afternoon. It was a case of deja vu for neighbors who said it was the third fire in just a few weeks.
The fire charred about 19 acres near homes and power lines. Con Fire tweeted that about 75 personel were battling the 2-alarm fire burning in the area of Golf Club Court and Golf Club Road just south of W. Leland Road.
Con Fire is on scene 2nd alarm grass fire in vicinity Golf Club Ct & Drive, Pittsburg. Fire is comtained. Currently NO evacuation orders in effect, all structures have been protected though fires have burned into some yards. #clubic pic.twitter.com/eQooWMdIZ5
— Con Fire PIO (@ContraCostaFire) June 15, 2022
Homes were spared, but the fire came dangerously close. And this is not the first time residents in the area have had to evacuate. According to ConFire, crews responded to at least 3 fires at this same location in the last few weeks.
The fire started at an abandoned golf course on Golf Club Road. Dry fuel and winds pushed it to the homes just across the way. Residents quickly evacuated as they watched a wall of fire come roaring towards their home.
"I thought our house was going to burn down," said neighbor Orelia Ramirez.
The flames reached Ramirez's backyard and an ember landed right along the side of the house, sparking a small fire.
"I had a feeling. We avoided fires back there for so long that's it's just a matter of time until something happens," said Ramirez.
She's not the only one who has been concerned with a fire burning down their home. Some residents evacuated just a week ago.
"We still had some of the stuff out from last week," said Paula Gilliam. "So we were somewhat prepared but it is a scary thought thinking you have to be prepared for something like this to happen again. That's the last thing you ever want to go through."
Firefighters aggressively tackled the fire from the ground and from the air. Quick work kept the flames from causing serious damage. ConFire says the fire burned roughly 18 acres and an investigator determined it started at a homeless encampment.
"Every one of these fires are caused by human activity. But it's also good news because they're preventable with greater vigilance, greater caution in all outdoor activities," said ConFire spokesperson Steve Hill.
ConFire says it's seen encampment-related fires increase every year for the last 3 years.
Cal Fire said the was contained as of 5:55 p.m.