Car Fire In Orinda Scorches 1/2 Acre Amid Rising Temperatures

LAMORINDA, CA — An early morning vehicle fire on Highway 24 near the Caldecott Tunnel in Orinda erupted into a fast-moving brush blaze in nearby hills after the driver pulled over and the car burst into flames, sending fire into nearby vegetation the Bay Area braces for its hottest day of the year so far.

The fire broke out near Fish Ranch Road and Highway 24 during the early morning hours when a vehicle caught fire.

After the driver stopped, the car exploded into flames, igniting nearby brush and quickly spreading across roughly half an acre.

Orinda-Moraga firefighters stopped the blaze, containing the fire before it could spread farther into the dry hillside terrain.

The incident comes as heat advisories and elevated fire weather warnings remain in effect across much of the Bay Area, where soaring temperatures and dry conditions are increasing wildfire concerns heading into what is expected to be the hottest day of the season so far.