'Suspicious' Fires Under Investigation In This Bay Area County

SAN RAFAEL, CA – Firefighters in San Rafael battled several vegetation and grass fires Sunday and Monday, describing two that "are suspicious and being investigated."

At around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, the San Rafael Fire Department responded to a vegetation fire between Coleman Drive and Robert Dollar Fire Road near the top of San Rafael Hill, officials said.

The fire spread was slow and firefighters said it likely started the night before.

Firefighters completely extinguished it within three hours.

At 12:55 a.m. on Monday, firefighters said they responded to two separate fires on Northgate Drive.

The largest fire was on the slope of 1 Thorndale Dr. and had burned around 1/2 acre.

SRFD officials said the landowner had previously performed vegetation reduction efforts a few months earlier.

"This directly contributed to the limited spread of the fire," fire officials said.

A second fire was also burning across the street near the Kohl's Department Store and was around 10 square feet, firefighters said.

Fire officials said both of the fires from Monday "are suspicious and being investigated."

There were no injuries or damage to structures.