Wildfire Breaks Out at Cascade Canyon Preserve

Marin County firefighters battled a vegetation fire in a remote area of the Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve Wednesday evening, but were ultimately able to stop flames from spreading past a half acre thanks to an aggressive attack, fire officials report.

According to the Marin County Fire Department, the fire was first reported at 4:21 p.m. off of Wagon Wheel Trail near Fairfax.

Some 80 firefighters and an air tanker were called to the scene, with crews coming from MCFD stations, the MCFD Tam Fire Crew, Ross Valley Fire Department, Larkspur Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (Calfire).

While winds reached an estimated 10 to 15 mph in the area, some crews hiked out to the blaze, while others were flown in, according to the MCFD.

"Battalion Chief Bret McTigue said it would take a while for firefighters to reach the flames on foot because of the remote location and hilly terrain," fire officials said in a news release. "The combination of Calfire air tankers dropping retardant and the ridgeline blocking the stiff winds kept the fire from spreading quickly."

The fire was considered 50 percent contained as of 9 p.m. Wednesday. Full containment was expected by 8 a.m. Thursday.

Some roads were briefly closed Wednesday evening as a precaution, but have since reopened.

The Cascade Canyon Open Space Preserve encompasses 504 acres in the hills above Fairfax and is said to have "some of the most pristine habitat in the Corte Madera Creek watershed.

(Image via Shutterstock)