Hot Lawnmower May Have Sparked Contra Costa County Fire

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A lawnmower may have been the cause of a fire late Saturday morning that consumed about 10 acres of vegetation north of March Creek Road south of Antioch and west of Brentwood in unincorporated Contra Costa County, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said.

The fire was first reported about 11:25 a.m. at the west end of Briones Valley Road. Firefighters from the East Contra Costa district and from Cal Fire arrived to see the fire spreading quickly, aided by dry vegetation and strong winds.

No injuries were reported and no structures burned, but some fence posts were damaged, firefighters said.

Firefighters said someone using a lawn mower in the area might have started the fire, and that the mower's hot muffler touching dry grasses may have sparked the blaze. The fire remained under investigation late Saturday.

—Bay City News