As hundreds of thousands of Northern California residents faced their second day without electricity after Pacific Gas & Electric turned off the power to avoid fire danger, several brush fires ignited throughout the region.
On Thursday afternoon, a fire on San Bruno Mountain in Brisbane south of San Francisco spread rapidly to about 11 acres and consumed vegetation below several power transmission towers, according to officials and video footage of the scene. Officials went door to door in the area to inform residents of a voluntary evacuation order, according to the Brisbane Police Department.
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection officials said the fire was 60% contained as of 2:05 p.m.
PG&E spokesman Paul Doherty said the area is in a low fire danger zone and the power has not been turned off.
“Right now, our focus is supporting the fire-suppression efforts and then will be … assessing any impacts to our infrastructure once we get the all-clear,” he said. “We also remain focused on continuing to inspect our electric equipment and safely restore service for our customers.”
Earlier in the day, a four-acre fire was reported in a grassy area near Levee Road in West Sacramento.
Paul Hosley, a spokesman for the West Sacramento Fire Department, said that by noon, the fire — which had begun about an hour ealier — was under control and fire officials were mopping up the area. No evacuations were ordered, and no structures were threatened.
About 75 miles to the south, Moraga-Orinda firefighters continued working to fully contain a wildfire that ignited in the predawn hours near St. Mary’s College.
Evacuations were ordered in Moraga’s Sanders Ranch neighborhood, but the college did not appear to be threatened, officials said.
Cal Fire said the flames consumed about 60 acres in a little over two hours but the blaze, called the Merrill fire, was 80% contained as of 7 a.m.
Residents of the Contra Costa County community are among some 600,000 PG&E customers who have had their power shut off in Northern California. Brisbane and West Sacramento, however, are not in PG&E’s power outage zones.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
#Brisbane King Fire CAL FIRE, North County and South San Francisco Fire and other departments are onscene of a 4 to 5 acre fire on Mt. San Bruno on the Brisbane side. Estimate 30% contained.
— CAL FIRE CZU (@CALFIRECZU) October 10, 2019
Multiple agencies responding to a 3 alarm fire in the San Bruno mountain area. As of now, Brisbane PD handling any necessary evacuations of residents in nearby areas. Please avoid the area.
— San Mateo County S.O (@SMCSheriff) October 10, 2019
.@WestSacFire is working a grass fire near the Broderick boat ramp. It will be smoky in the area until the fire is extinguished. At this time no structures are threatened.
— West Sacramento (@cityofwestsac) October 10, 2019
