Norton Fire Scorches Contra Costa County: Report

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A wind-driven fire tore through dry grasslands Thursday evening in eastern Contra Costa County, swelling from five acres to 40 acres in less than two hours before firefighters stopped its forward spread near Clayton.

The blaze, identified by CAL FIRE as the Norton Fire, ignited around 5:25 p.m. near Nortonville Road and Black Diamond Way, according to reports.

Crews from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District arrived to find roughly five acres burning between Somersville Road and Kirker Pass Road.

Within 20 minutes, flames exploded across the dry terrain, growing to 20 acres as smoke climbed above eastern Contra Costa County. Firefighters launched a coordinated attack using engines, hand crews, and aircraft as the fire pushed through grass-covered hillsides, according to reports.

By 6:54 p.m., officials reported the fire had reached 40 acres but said crews had contained the blaze.

Reaching a total of 55 acres, crews reported the fire 100 contained just before 2 a.m.

CAL FIRE said steep terrain and weather conditions complicated firefighting efforts, though responders continued gaining ground against the flames, according to reports.

"This was not an easy fight, the rugged, steep terrain presented major challenges for all crews on the ground," Cal Fire officials said in a social media post.

The response included nine engines, two helicopters, two bulldozers and 75 fire personnel from Cal Fire, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the East Bay Regional Park District. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

No structures were burned and no injuries or deaths were reported.

Bay City News contributed to this report.
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