An aerial shot of the grass fire that burned approximately 8 acres near Columbus Parkway on Thursday evening. No structures were damaged, and no injuries were reported. (Photo by Ed Matthews)

Staff Report

The Benicia Fire Department battled an intense vegetation fire for nearly two hours Thursday evening before it was finally under control.

At approximately 6:43 p.m., the Fire Department received reports of a vegetation fire in the area of Eastbound Interstate 780 between Glen Cove and Columbus Parkway, according to a news release by the Fire Department. The department responded with an Engine/Brush-11, Engine/Brush-12, Water Tender-11 and Battalion-11. Vallejo Fire Department had received calls for a fire in the area and responded with its own units. Upon arrival, the units discovered a fire approximately 3 to 4 feet in acres burning in grass and thick brush between I-780 and the Benicia State Recreation Area. Firefighters had difficulty accessing the fire because of the terrain, and the fire was also affecting a grove of eucalyptus trees. Benicia’s Battalion-11 assumed command, and the fire was upgraded to a second alarm, the release said.

As fire units began accessing the fire, it crossed I-780 and ignited a fire on the north side of 780 between Columbus Parkway and Benicia Road. It also jumped Columbus Parkway to the adjacent hillside, threatening two homes and three businesses. The fire was then upgraded to a third alarm, which prompted a request to Cal Fire for additional service.

Crews attacked the fire on multiple fronts, which was under control at 8:40 p.m. Crews remained on the scene for hours afterwards to clean up and guarantee there was no chance of additional fires. Structures were not damaged, and there were no reported injuries to the public or the firefighters.

“Although this fire was kept relatively small at approximately 8 acres, it had the potential to be much larger,” the department wrote.

Benicia and Vallejo’s fire departments received assistance from additional agencies, including Fairfield Fire Department, Valero Benicia Refinery, Cal Fire, Travis Air Force Base, Suisun Fire Department and Contra Costa Fire Department. Fairfield and Contra Costa provided city coverage and ran one fire alarm, two medicals and a vehicle accident as the fire was taking place, according to the news release. No air drops were made.

The cause is still under investigation.

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