Fireworks blamed for 4-alarm brush fire that spread to south Vallejo neighborhood
VALLEJO, Calif. - Fire investigators say fireworks likely sparked a 4-alarm, 15-acre vegetation fire in a south Vallejo neighborhood near the Swanzy Reservoir Monday evening, which forced the temporary evacuation of residents.
Now, fire crews are trying to figure out who set them off.
Fire officials said mutual aid made quick progress fighting the fire, which was knocked down by 10:30 p.m. A battalion chief said that the fire didn't actually get inside of any homes, but 10 residences suffered some sort of property damage, such as fencing or patio damage.
The Vallejo Firefighters Association said the fire moved uphill in whipping winds.
Police went door-to-door when evacuations were ordered for residents on Del Sur Street, south of Pueblo Way including Swanzy Court and Clearpointe Drive west of Outrigger Drive.
The fire's first mention on Vallejo Firefighters Association's Twitter page was at around 9 p.m. About a half-hour later, the city of Vallejo retweeted Alert Solano and said there was an immediate threat to life or property.
Fireworks blamed for brush fire that spread to South Vallejo neighborhood
A Vallejo brush fire that spread to a neighborhood in South Vallejo Monday night is being blamed on fireworks being set off in the area. The fire prompted mandatory evacuations that have since been called off. No homes suffered major damage.
A KTVU crew arrived at the scene where some residents chose to stay as the situation unfolded. At least one firefighter suffered a minor leg injury.
Neighbors at the scene said they heard fireworks being set off before the fire. Fire investigators said they know which home the fireworks came from and are in the process of contacting the residents.
"My wife was up in the study room and she heard the fireworks go off," said homeowner Robert Booker. "Shortly after that, there was smoke."
Robert Skillman, another homeowner, said he felt very lucky he was still alive and his house was ultimately spared.
"I don't know what to say other, then when I looked in my rearview mirror and the flames were like 20 feet high and I thought my house was gonna be gone," he said.
Vallejo Battalion Fire Chief Cliff Campbell said the situation with fireworks is ramping up as it gets closer to the Fourth of July holiday.
He said it's a dangerous situation with how dry grass and brush are from California's ongoing severe drought.
He reminded fireworks are illegal in the city of Vallejo and in most of Solano County. To report illegal fireworks in Vallejo, click here.
KTVU's Debora Villalon and James Torrez contributed to this report.