Antioch Brush Fire Chars 50 Acres, Shuts Down Railroad Tracks

ANTIOCH, CA — Contra Costa County Fire Protection District firefighters extinguished a 50-acre brush fire in Antioch early Sunday morning after nearly six hours of containment efforts. The fire in the Dow Wetlands Preserve was first reported at 12:35 a.m. and was fully contained by 6:20 a.m., according to Fire Inspector Steve Aubert.

He said firefighters struggled with limited access to a water supply because there weren't many fire hydrants nearby.

The fire spread from reeds to a thick canopy of trees, brush and berry vines, and Burlington Northern Railroad tracks had to be shut down for a few hours due to their proximity to the blaze, according to the fire
district.

PG&E also surveyed several power poles for damage. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, Aubert said.

Fire officials said this was the first large vegetation fire of the year in the county. No injuries were reported as a result of the blaze.

By Bay City News Service

Photo credit: Brian Goodman/Shutterstock.com