Fireworks Sparked Brush Fire In Mill Valley: Police

MILL VALLEY, CA — Fireworks sparked a brush fire Tuesday night in Mill Valley, police said Wednesday morning.

The blaze, called the Fern Fire, broke out sometime after 7:45 p.m. near 10 Fern Canyon Road, according to the Mill Valley Police Department. The fire burned from the edge of the road downhill into heavy brush, and northwest winds developed fire whirls.

The fire, which was visible from Highway 101, spread about a quarter-acre. Firefighters from Mill Valley Fire, Marin County Fire and a special Strike Team fought the flames. Crews stopped forward progress within 35 minutes, according to Mill Valley police.

Previous: Crews Quickly Stop Brush Fire In Mill Valley

Police and fire personnel determined the fire was caused by fireworks, according to Mill Valley police. Packages of sparklers and other used fireworks were found along the dirt turnout on Fern Canyon Road.

The fire remains under investigation. Anyone with information or camera footage was asked to contact Mill Valley police Detective Ryan Smith at 415-389-4100 or email pd-info@cityofmillvalley.org.

The blaze broke out hours before Pacific Gas and Electric Company started shutting off power to customers in Marin and elsewhere in Northern California in an effort to avoid sparking a wildfire during extreme weather and fire conditions.

"The Mill Valley Police Department, Mill Valley Fire Department and the City of Mill Valley take this matter very seriously and will be pursue criminal charges, if possible," police said in a press release.

"We are collectively very disappointed by the reckless and irresponsible behavior demonstrated by the person(s) who ignited fireworks in a highly flammable area during a red flag warning with no due regard for public safety."

Also see:

• Red Flag Warning, Land-Use Restrictions In Effect For Marin
• Over 500,000 Without Power In CA As PG&E Starts Power Shutdowns
• Tam Valley School Closed, Other Schools Open In Mill Valley
• Red Flag Warning Issued For Much Of NorCal: NWS
• Nearly 10,000 Marin Households Will Be Affected By Power Shutoff
• SMART Trains On Normal Schedule; Delays Expected Due To Shutoff