Update: Fireworks keep East Bay crews busy with numerous brush fires
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY (BCN/CBS SF) -- Crews in the East Bay had their hands full all day Monday into the night as fireworks were blamed for starting a number of vegetation fires.
The Contra Costa Fire Protection District tweeted at around 10:15 p.m. that firefighters responded to 30 different fires across the East Bay over the course of July 4th.
Of those 30 fires, nine were confirmed to be caused by fireworks, with the vast majority of others suspected to have been started by illegal pyrotechnics, authorities said. Since the start of the holiday weekend Friday afternoon, Con Fire responded to 70 fires, many caused by fireworks.
Earlier Monday, vegetation fire in the vicinity of Port Chicago Highway and Driftwood Circle in Bay Point that a witness said was started by fireworks consumed about 6.5 acres Monday night.
The fire started shortly before 6:30 p.m. when crews arrived on the scene, authorities said. The blaze initially scorched about two acres as Cal Fire and Contra Costa Fire crews responded.
The so-called Driftwood Fire ending up burning approximately 6.5 acres before crews were able to control it. A witness reported someone setting off fireworks from a vehicle which then started the fire.
Contra Costa Fire tweeted out information and photos from the scene of the fire.
No structures were damaged and no injuries reported. Contra Costa Fire units were clearing the area after 90 minutes on scene with federal fire units remaining to monitor the incident and prevent flare-ups.
