Contra Costa Brush Fire Damages Home; School Evacuated

PITTSBURG, CA — One home was damaged, several other homes were threatened and an elementary school was evacuated in a vegetation fire Tuesday in Pittsburg, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

The fire broke out around 12:15 p.m. Tuesday along a walkway behind homes in the 100 block of Chelsea Way, fire officials said.

Within an hour, Con Fire reported the Chelsea Fire was knocked down and there was no further threat to homes.

Investigators determined the fire was caused by cooking at one of the encampments. The investigation was continuing, Con Fire Spokesman Steve Hill said.

"Investigators now know there was a cooking fire, just outside the yard of the home that was damaged," Hill told Patch. "It was likely a homeless cooking fire that started the fire and threatened homes all along the back of Chelsea Way and got into one of them."

Hill said there was extensive damage to the one home but it was not a complete loss.

Los Medanos Elementary was momentarily evacuated because of smoke but students were returning to class.

Three acres burned in the blaze and firefighters were expected to remain on scene for "extensive mop-up."

No injuries were reported.

It was the second brush fire in as many days in Pittsburg. A blaze Monday afternoon at West Leland and Golf Club roads charred 7 acres.