Heat In Contra Costa Co. Leads To Downed Power Line, Grass Fires, Outage

CONTRA COSTA CO. (CBS SF) -- High temperatures led to an equipment failure and downed power line that sparked two small grass fires and an outage affecting some 2,400 PG&E customers near the Walnut Creek-Lafayette border on Sunday night, utility and fire officials said Monday.

The fallen power line and vegetation fires were reported around 9 p.m. in the 3100 block of Lucas Drive in Lafayette near the unincorporated area of Rossmoor, according to Contra Costa County Fire Protection District officials.

The small fires burned about a half-acre of grass in the area and were under control in about 15 minutes, Fire Marshal Robert Marshall said.

No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported. The downed line also left about 2,400 PG&E customers in the area without power, according to PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian.

Power was fully restored by 11:45 p.m., Sarkissian said. PG&E personnel determined that the heat on Saturday triggered an equipment failure and caused the power line to fall.

Residents are cautioned to call 911 and PG&E immediately if they see a fallen power line and to stay away from the line since it could be live.