Following 2 Fires, Mare Island Preserve Closed To Public

VALLEJO, CA — Following two fires this week on the Mare Island Preserve in Vallejo, city officials said Friday the preserve is temporarily closed to the public while the cause of a fire Wednesday that sparked a second fire Thursday is investigated and the preserve is deemed safe.

The fires — the first one broke out at 3 a.m. Wednesday, the second at 11:30 a.m. Thursday —resulted in significant damage to trees on Mare Island, creating a high concern for public safety, according to Joanna Altman, assistant to the city manager.

"In addition, there are many hot spots that the Vallejo Fire Department is closely monitoring, and other areas of burnt brush which create other unknown hazards," Altman said.

Wednesday's fire was 7-10 acres and was caused by downed power lines, Vallejo Fire Engineer Kevin Brown said. It appeared someone tried to cut five power poles with an electric Sawzall saw, and two of the saw's blades were found at the scene, Brown said.

Two of the poles were cut nearly clear through and they were leaning, which likely caused tension on the power lines that fell, Brown said.

Thursday, as Vallejo firefighters were putting out remaining hot spots from Wednesday's vegetation fire, an increase in wind speeds caused a flare-up of one of the hot spots within the fire perimeter, city officials said.

"Both the flare-up and high winds jumped over the wide control line," Altman said. "Even with two fire crews already on scene, the fire was impossible to catch as it quickly climbed the hillside."

Numerous neighboring fire departments sent mutual-aid crews to Thursday's fire, with Cal Fire providing air support.

The fire grew to 40 acres in size and was fully contained around 8 p.m. Thursday but crews remained at the scene Friday.

"This fire caused damage to the southern fence line of the historic naval cemetery," Altman said. "Though several former navy structures were threatened, no damage occurred."

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