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OAKLEY — Firefighters have apparently stopped forward progress on a fast-moving grass fire Tuesday afternoon that spurred evacuation orders for residents of a neighborhood, authorities said.
Just after 11:40 a.m., firefighters responded aboard a dozen engines to East Cypress Road and Summer Lake Drive near the fire district’s unmanned fire station, and Contra Costa sheriff’s deputies also responded to assist with traffic control.
In an alert just before 12:40 p.m., Contra Costa County’s community warning system called for immediate evacuation near the Summer Lake neighborhood and along Sandmound Boulevard. Residents were told to take only essential items, put pets in carriers or on leashes, lock their windows and doors and head to Delta Vista Middle School north of East Cypress Road.
Residents were also advised to stay off their phones unless they were reporting a life-threatening emergency, and to call 911 for help if they were physically unable to leave home unassisted. Those evacuation orders were later lifted around 2:45 p.m.
Firefighters with the Crockett Carquinez Fire District posted to social media that they were sending a strike team, joining other inbound fire resources, but later said the request had been cancelled.
No initial word was available on any threatened structures or injuries on what was being called the Cypress Fire.
Tuesday was the fourth day in a row East Contra Costa Fire Protection District firefighters had battled a significant blaze.
On Monday night, 16 acres of grass and some brush were burned in the area of Vasco Road and Camino Diablo in Byron.
That fire started about 5:05 p.m. Monday and was contained in a few hours by 24 firefighters from East Contra Costa and other agencies. No injuries were reported and the cause is under investigation.
On Sunday, a rekindle in the 4800 block of Holland Tract Road in Knightsen of a fireworks-caused 30-acre vegetation fire Saturday scorched another 44 acres before it was brought under control, officials said.
Sunday’s fire, which was driven by winds, erupted about 3:28 p.m. Fifteen firefighters from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District and the Contra Costa County fire Protection District responded.
Eagle Six, the East Bay Regional Park District’s helicopter, made water drops and crews were able to use a bulldozer to make a fire break around the perimeter and break up debris piles. The fire was declared contained at 9:21 p.m.. There were no injuries.
The Saturday fire started around 5:05 p.m. and brought 30 firefighters from East Contra Costa and other agencies to the scene. Ground units were aided by aerial water drops and the fire was contained about 8:30 p.m
Crews were hampered by winds, thick grass and ditches and, at one point, a single East Contra Costa engine company fought the fire for 20 minutes by themselves because the two other engine companies were on other calls.
There were no injuries but damage was estimated at $100,000 and included a tractor, irrigation pipe and dock casement, officials said.
Since Saturday the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, which officials have said is extremely understaffed with just three of six fire stations open, responded to more than 30 fires, officials said.
In some fires, firefighters making initial responses with one engine had to wait for additional resources to become available as early as 5 p.m. Saturday and throughout the night.
There were also about 80 other calls for service for the department and police agencies in the area.
In one incident, a 4-year-old boy and his father suffered burns Saturday in Brentwood, apparently from fireworks.
At least 125 total acres were consumed by fire, 70 citations were issued and 100 pounds of fireworks were seized, East Contra Costa Battalion Chief and Fire Marshall Steve Aubert said Tuesday.
Immediate Evacuation in Oakley near Summerlake and Sandmound due to fire. Go to https://t.co/eyxYXfjkhP
— Contra Costa CWS (@CoCoCWS) July 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/211ContraCosta/status/1280595644030128129
#CypressFire Strike Team has been cancelled.
— CrockettCarquinezFire (@FireCrockett) July 7, 2020
https://twitter.com/ECCFPD/status/1280610537315856384
All-Clear in Oakley near Summerlake and Sandmound
This is a message from the Oakley Police Department. The evacuation order for the fire in Oakley has been lifted. Emergency personnel may still be on scene, but it is safe for residents to return home
— Contra Costa CWS (@CoCoCWS) July 7, 2020
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.
