Pleasanton Fire: Containment Strengthens, Firefighters Continue Battle

PLEASANTON, CA — Containment was at 20 percent Friday morning in the wildfire that ignited Thursday afternoon in the hills between Pleasanton and Sunol, prompting evacuations, Cal Fire reported. As of 6:57 a.m., agency officials said the Canyon Fire was mapped at 71 acres.

NEARBY: Evacuation Orders Issued As Scenic Fire Rages In Port Costa, Crockett

NEARBY: 2nd-Alarm Grass Fire Burns In Benicia

Two firefighters were treated for injuries suffered in the blaze and have since been released from medical care. Cal Fire did not have detailed information on their injuries but said one was a Fremont firefighter who was struck by a falling tree.

The cause remained under investigation. One outbuilding burned and Cal Fire is investigating whether the fire started in the building or spread to it, Cal Fire SCU Division Chief Chuck Carroll told Patch.

Crews were expected to remain on scene for multiple days because there is no recent burn history in the area, making firefighting conditions challenging, Carroll said.

A large smoke plume could be seen for miles shortly after the fire was first reported around 1:30 p.m. Flames smoldered in the area of Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park near Foothill Road and the Interstate 580-680 split as temperatures climbed above 90 degrees.

Residents of Golden Eagle Estates were asked to evacuate just after 2:45 p.m., according to the Pleasanton Police Department. Foothill Road was closed from Bernal Avenue to Castlewood Road, police said. Authorities urged residents to expect detours and plan to take alternate routes.

About an hour later, residents in the area of Kilkare Road in Sunol were also told to "immediately" evacuate as the wildfire neared that community as well.

Evacuation orders were lifted just after 7:30 p.m., the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services said.

The blaze was dubbed the Canyon Fire and burned through mostly grass and brush. Firefighters hiked through treacherous terrain to get to the starting point of the fire, SF Gate reported. Firefighters requested mutual aid as it grew from 10 acres to 50 acres within a matter of hours.

The California Highway Patrol initially reported flames inching toward the hills of Sunol. Fire crews were working to douse the flames by both ground and air.

The fire was originally reported at 4549 River Rock Hill Road, according to the PulsePoint app.

Two more wildfires were burning nearby, with one reported near Interstate 505 in Vacaville, named the Timm Fire, and another near Martinez in Contra Costa County.

A fourth blaze also broke out in the region later Thursday, dubbed the Tesla Fire.

SEE ALSO: Brush Fire East Of Livermore Grows, Limited Containment

-Patch Staffer Maggie Fusek contributed to this report.