All, Contra Costa County Fire District responded to a reported vegetation fire on Kirker Pass at 13:19 hours yesterday afternoon. The first arriving unit reported a half acre of grass and trees involved with power lines down. The fire grew rapidly to 20 acres before additional units arrived. First arriving Con Fire units attacked the fire threatening homes on Hess Rd and Kirker Pass. During the incident, 4 Con Fire units protecting homes off Kirker Pass were temporarily surrounded by fire cutting off any exit. Crews saved 3 homes and 2 barns by removing fuel and deploying hoselines around the structures. Ironically Engine 87 which is scheduled to close on 7/8 headed the division assigned to protect the homes. A total of 9 engines, 1 Dozer, 4 Battalion Chiefs, 2 Safety Officers, 2 Communication Specialists, 1 PIO and the Fire Chief responded to the incident. 14 Engines, 4 Air tankers, 4 Helicopters, 4 Hand Crews, 2 Battalion Chiefs, 1 Fuel Truck, 3 Dozers and numerous support vehicles responded from Cal Fire. San Ramon Valley and Moraga-Orinda water tenders were requested. East Bay Regional Parks had 5 units dispatched to the incident which was encroaching EBRP property. Concord PD, CHP, Pittsburg PD and EBRP PD assisted with traffic control and evacuation. Cal Fire and units from Con Fire are expected to be on-scene throughout the day checking for hot spots. Temperatures hovered over 100 throughout the afternoon. Con Fire units were on scene for nearly 9 hours. Crews worked under extreme conditions throughout the fire. Approximately 500 acres, 2 outbuildings and numerous PGE power poles were damaged or destroyed. No injuries to firefighters or civilians was reported. Cal Fire investigators identified a PGE power pole as the cause and origin of the fire. A 200 acre grass fire in Brentwood and a residential structure fire in Concord were occuring during the Kirker Pass fire stretching Con Fire units beyond our limit causing me great concern for the health and safety of all the firefighters working throughout the county. John Kipp Battalion Chief CCCFPD Thanks John for your report and comments! Ben Johnson
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 04:42:03 +0000
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