Update: Crews contain 3-alarm vegetation fire in Martinez
MARTINEZ -- Crews have contained a three-alarm vegetation fire that at one point threatened structures in Martinez Thursday afternoon, according to authorities.
The fire was first reported at 3:47 p.m. in the area of the 4100 block of Pacheco Boulevard, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) said. The location is across from Las Juntas Elementary School and blocks from homes and businesses.
Two alarms were initially called, with a third alarm called due to the threat to structures. Con Fire asked BNSF Railway to shut down its track in the area just before 4 p.m. and crews were dispatched to protect structures in the area.
The fire was putting up a massive plume of smoke that could be seen for miles across the East Bay.
Assistance from Cal Fire, including air support and the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Department have been requested.
Contra Costa Fire provided an update shortly after 5 p.m., saying that crews were making progress on the fire and that structure protection was successful. Fire officials anticipated that no evacuations would be ordered as crews continued to work the fire from the ground and the air.
Fire officials later confirmed that the fire was contained at approximately 17 acres, though there were still hot spots that would keep crews on scene for several hours doing extensive mop up. The fire started in or near homeless encampment above Pacheco Boulevard, authorities said.
