Deer Complex Fires Force Mandatory Evacuations Near Brentwood
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- A series of brush fires ignited by lightning early Sunday in East Contra Costa has led authorities to issue mandatory evacuation orders near Brentwood shortly after 9 p.m.
The East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District posted about the evacuation order for Marsh Creek Road and Morgan Territory Road from Round Valley north west to Deer Valley at 9:12 p.m. Sunday night. The evacuation order was issued due to a change in the so-called Deer Valley Complex Fire's behavior.
The complex of four vegetation fires are burning in the Round Valley Regional Preserve area on the northeast slope of Mount Diablo.
At around 10:20 p.m., the mandatory evacuation order was expanded to include all of Morgan Territory Road as well as Marsh Creek Road on both sides from the intersection with Morgan Territory Road heading east to the Round Valley Regional Preserve parking lot.
Evacuees from the Marsh Creek and Morgan Territory area fires were initially directed to go to either the Community Center in Brentwood at 34 Oak Street and the parking lot of the Safeway in Clayton. Fire officials later announced that the Clayton Library at 6125 Clayton Road was open for evacuees.
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's community warning system Twitter account also posted about the evacuation order, though it mentioned a slightly different area in Brentwood along Marsh Creek Road between Bragdon Way and Deer Valley Road.
The account was relaying an order issued by Calfire instructing all residents to leave the area by vehicle, traveling south on Marsh Creek Road toward Brentwood.
Evacuees were instructed to take only those essential items they had ready and could carry. Pets were required to be in a carrier or on a leash. Evacuees were instructed to lock the doors and windows to their homes.
Residents should stay off their phones unless reporting a life-threatening emergency at your location. Anyone who is physically unable to leave their home unassisted was instructed to call 9-1-1 for help.
It is also being referred to multiple incidents as the Deer Zone Fires. Cal Fire had reported that the fires had grown to 400 acres as of 7:45 p.m.
Early Sunday morning, the fire quickly grew to 100 acres and triggered an initial warning of possible evacuations of homes along Marsh Creek Road.
The fires were burning in the tinder-dry brush in the area of Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek roads near Mt. Diablo State Park. By 10 a.m. the Deer Valley Complex fires had grown to a total of 100 acres with zero containment.
"No evacuation has been ordered at this time, however it is possible one may become necessary," Cal Fire officials said. "Gather any essential items you could carry with you, including medications, baby supplies, money, important papers, photos. Locate any pets and be prepared to cage or leash them."
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Multiple agencies - including Cal Fire, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District -- responded Sunday morning to the area.
East Contra Costa Fire Protection District officials reported there were three fires burning in the area -- south of Briones Valley Rd, at Marsh Creek Rd and Deer Valley Rd. and inside of Round Valley Regional Park.
"Approximately 25 fire units are on scene with more enroute," the agency said in a tweet. "Lightning has been striking the hills all around in the area while we are trying to contain the blazes."
A large Erickson MD-87 air tanker out of McClellan Air Base in Sacramento was also making retardant drops on the fire.
No injuries have been reported and no structures damaged so far.
