Walnut Creek Residential Fire Sparked By Fireplace Ashes

WALNUT CREEK, CA — A residential fire Sunday in Walnut Creek was sparked by fireplace ashes, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

At 10:33 a.m. Sunday, a witness called to report a large volume of black smoke and flames coming from 3rd Avenue, Con Fire Capt. Joe Ottolini told Patch.

The first crew of firefighters to arrive also reported heavy black smoke and located the fire on a residential property in the 1600 block of 3rd Avenue. The fire was burning near a detached garage that had a small apartment attached to it — and flames were spreading to the exterior of the garage, Ottolini said.

It took firefighters 12 minutes to knock down the fire, which damaged an exterior corner of the garage, he said.

The occupants were not home but it appeared they disposed of their fireplace ashes in a garbage can, Ottolini said.

"That is what ignited; it was determined to be the cause of the exterior fire."

No injuries were reported.