Moraga Wildfire Burns 50 Acres

LAMORINDA, CA — Residents are back homes in the Sanders Ranch neighborhood of Moraga after being forced to flee from a wildfire overnight. No homes were lost, and no injuries have been reported.

Around 140 structures were threatened by the Merrill Fire. Moraga Orinda Fire District spokesperson Dennis Rein said the fire was on pasture land and burned right up to the backyards of homes.

The fire was first reported at 12:54 a.m. near 46 Merrill Circle North and off Sanders Ranch Road, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Fire Captain George Laing said. It burned less than a mile south of St. Mary's College, but the school was not threatened.

The estimated size of the fire varied widely early Thursday. Cal Fire now reports that 50 acres burned.

In a social media post after the fire was over...

the Moraga-Orinda Fire District called the blaze "a fast moving and dynamic fire driven by erratic winds and fueled by dry conditions that could very easily have damaged or destroyed a significant number of homes."

Moraga police issued evacuation orders for residents along Sanders Ranch Road, Merrill Drive and Harrington Road. They evacuated to St. Monica's Church at 1001 Camino Pablo.

The cause of the fire is not immediately available.

— Bay City News contributed to this report