Evacuations ordered as fire near Livermore grows to 2,500 acres

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Some evacuations were ordered early Wednesday evening after a grass fire burning east of Livermore grew to 2,500 acres, according to Cal Fire.

Reports of the fire came in at 2:45 p.m. off Tesla Road near Corral Hollow Road between Tracy and Livermore, Cal Fire officials said.

Shortly after 4 p.m. the fire, now being called the Tesla Fire, covered about 100 acres, and shortly before 5 p.m. it had spread to about 200 acres, according to Cal Fire.

By shortly before 6:30 p.m., it had already grown to 1,000 acres. That was around when the Carnegie Motocross Park at 18600 Corral Hollow Road is being evacuated, according to Cal Fire. 

A tweet from Cal Fire shortly after 8:30 p.m. placed the size of the fire at 2,500 acres. At that time, the fire was about 5 percent contained, Cal Fire authorities said.

The fire is burning on both sides of Tesla Road, Cal Fire fire prevention specialist Pam Temmermand said.

Temmermand says 23 engines, three bulldozers, four air tankers and two helicopters from Alameda County fire district were fighting the blaze and crews from the East Bay Regional Parks fire district are expected to join the line Wednesday evening.

Temmermand said the fire has been growing steadily since it was first reported Wednesday afternoon.

"If the wind dies down, maybe things will slow down a bit," Temmermand said. "But I know they're getting gusts of 12 to 13 (mph), so we'll see."
   
No injuries have been reported, but Cal Fire officials said one structure has been lost so far. Details about the kind of structure involved were not immediately available.
   
Fire crews plan to remain on scene through the night and into Thursday, according to Temmermand.