Crews flood still-smoldering Marsh Fire to end ongoing smoke hazard
PITTSBURG (KPIX) -- Firefighters are using a rare strategy to fight a stubborn smoky fire that won't die down in East Contra Costa County. The so-called Marsh Fire has been burning for more than six weeks.
The Marsh Fire, which started May 28 in a Bay Point homeless encampment, is mostly burning peat, a spongy material formed by the partial decomposition of organic matter, usually plant material found in wetlands. Fire officials say peat fires are very difficult to extinguish.
Contra Costa Fire Protection District crews are flooding the smoldering wetland with millions of gallons of water. Friday morning, workers opened a floodgate, releasing hundreds of gallons per minute onto the ground where the subsurface peat is burning near Bay Point and Pittsburg.
"What we're seeing is not necessarily large, active flames that are consuming vegetation. We're seeing this fire burning down in the earth and really off-gassing in the form of smoke. So we do get a tremendous amount of smoke production," said Confire deputy chief Aaron McAlister.
He said that, because the fire is burning underground and the soil is unstable, they've been unsuccessful in putting out the fire using helicopter water drops.
"Equipment could be sunk down into the ground or the heat could actually burn the tires on the vehicle and the same thing for firefighters. So it does present a risk for fighters, putting them in the field in this environment and, therefore, flooding is our best option," McAlister said.
Since they're pumping water from the Delta, it took a while to get all state and federal agencies to sign off on the plan. Confire said the last time they got permission to flood and put out a peat fire like this was about two years ago.
After it began on May 28, the Marsh Fire grew to about 200 acres. Firefighters said it is burning within the perimeter not growing or threatening nearby homes.
Air quality experts are asking neighbors to stay indoors but people are running out of patience.
"It's affecting us since we can't go outside and, when we do go outside, you can smell the smoke, you can see the smoke," said Pittsburg resident Marco Ramos.
The smoke is thick in the area and ash is falling on the ground. Nearby playgrounds are empty.
"It really burns my throat a lot, just breathing it in," said Pittsburg resident William Posey.
"I was actually working from home today with all the air purifiers, windows closed and it's horrible," said area resident Leondra Ramm earlier this week.
Confire firefighters said neighbors should see some relief in about a week. They'll continue to flood the area for roughly the next five days to try to put out the fire.
People who live and work in this shoreline community of Pittsburg have had to deal with heavy smoke as well as ashes raining down in the neighborhood.
"The air now is to the point where it's very unhealthy to breathe so it's really frustrating. A lot of the people I speak to, the neighbors are very frustrated." Ramm said.
People can check for real-time air quality readings at the Bay Area Air Quality Management District website.
