At 10:10 pm Sunday, the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded to a report of a vegetation fire at Kirker Pass and Hess Road in the City of Concord.
According to preliminary information, the fire started from a car crash on Kirker Pass Road between the City of Pittsburg and City of Concord which ignited vegetation to catch fire and began to run up a hill.
The fire prompted a 2-alarm response in which crews were on scene for a little over 4-hours and shut down the road. By 5:30 am, Concord Police Department announced via social media that Kirker Pass was reopened. The California Highway Patrol also responded to the area.
Earlier in the day, Contra Costa County Fire also battled a vegetation fire in unincorporated Brentwood. In that fire, which began at 1:10 pm, they had a CALFIRE response which limited the fire to approximently 75-acres. The cause of that fire is still under investigation.
On June 7, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District announced return to full fire responses for all grass, vegetation, and wildland fires across the district because of the arrival of seasonal fire weather. Full responses include a minimum of five firefighting apparatus and crews. Since November 16, 2022, such responses had been limited to a single engine based on the reduced threat during winter months.
In addition to increasing response levels for all grass, vegetation and wildland fires, Con Fire is adjusting staffing levels, adding two Crew 12, 16-person hand crew teams for seven-day-per-week availability. Heavy equipment crews are also being upstaffed to provide early-season fire trail maintenance as well as vegetation fire responses.
Residents are encouraged to learn and note their zone for reference in an emergency by visiting cwsalerts.com/know-your-zone/. Detailed information on protecting homes and businesses from wildfire dangers, including weed abatement deadlines and preparing now for the possibility of evacuation can be found on the district’s website at https://www.cccfpd.org/wildfire-prep/.
