Several Buildings Burned In Contra Costa County Fires

OAKLEY, Calif. (AP) -- Fire officials say several small buildings were burned after a series of fires broke out along railroad tracks near the Contra Costa County city of Oakley.

Officials say five fires consumed about 30 acres in an area of grasslands and farmland before the nearly 100 firefighters called out were able to contain the fires a little after 3 p.m. Thursday.

East Contra Costa fire Chief Hugh Henderson did not have an exact count on the number of buildings burned, but says no homes were destroyed.

The cause of the fires is under investigation, but Henderson notes that all five fires were adjacent to railroad tracks. Witnesses say a freight train had passed through the area just before the fires broke out.

Smoke from the fires had prompted authorities to issue a shelter-in-place warning for some residents in Oakley and nearby Knightsen, but the warning was cancelled by early evening.

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