Fire In Benicia Shuts Down I-780

BENICIA, CA — A three-alarm grass fire that broke out Thursday night off Interstate Highway 780 in Benicia, shutting down all lanes of the freeway, was contained by 8:40 p.m., according to fire officials. The blaze burned eight acres and threatened two homes and three businesses, the Benicia Fire Department said. Flames were first reported at about 6:41 p.m. at the Glen Gove Road on-ramp to eastbound I-780, according to California Highway Patrol.

A Sig-alert was issued for the closure of eastbound I-780 at Glen Cove Road and the closure of westbound I-780 at Columbus Parkway and fire officials were urging people to avoid the area near Columbus Parkway and Benicia State Park.

Firefighters from Benicia, Vallejo, Cal Fire, Fairfield, Suisun City, Contra Costa County and Travis Air Force Base all responded to the blaze.

It was necessary to close the highway and Columbus Parkway because of zero visibility and crews working on the roadway, Benicia fire officials said.

At 8:45 p.m., CHP reported that the No. 1 lane of westbound I-780 was reopened but the No. 2 lane and both eastbound lanes remained closed.

At 9:03 p.m., the Benicia Fire Department reported the fire was contained but crews would remain on scene overnight. By that time, a lane in each direction had been reopened, fire officials also said.

The cause of the fire is being investigated.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch