Castro Valley in Flames, Fireworks to Blame
photo courtesy of Brian Wigand
The Fourth of July holiday in Castro Valley was marred by two grass fires– one at Lake Chabot and this one near 3Crosses Church. Thankfully, no one was harmed, and no buildings were damaged.
County fire officials are investigating two grass fires in Castro Valley that threatened homes and other structures last week during the Fourth of July holiday. They suspect illegal fireworks started both blazes.
Just after 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, the Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) responded to a fire that broke out at Lake Chabot Regional Park near the overflow parking area and the service road that leads up to the East Bay Regional Park District offices. The fire spread to approximately six acres. East Bay Regional Parks (EBRP) and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) were called to help extinguish the fire.
The flames threatened the neighborhood near Arcadian Drive and Arcadian Court. Luckily no homes were burned, and no injuries to firefighters or the community were reported.
Then after 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 5, a second fire broke out along a hillside on John Drive. Initially, homes were threatened near 3Crosses Church. Some neighbors were told to evacuate. That fire burned four acres before firefighters contained the blaze.
ACFD spokesperson Cheryl Hurd said fences burned and were knocked down as crews worked to protect homes, but there was no damage to any structures due to the "quick and aggressive fire attack" by firefighters.
“One witness told firefighters on scene that they saw fireworks in the area,” Hurd said, adding that residents returned to their homes Wednesday night.
Castro Valley resident Brian Wigand was in the area when he took the photo of the fire near 3Crosses Church.
“Well, I figured fireworks must have started it and was hoping that the fire department would be able to get it under control before anyone was in danger or any property was damaged. I couldn’t help but think of the recent fire at Lake Chabot and was grateful for the wet winter we just had, or it may have been much worse,” Brian told the Forum.
County officials are investigating both fires in Castro Valley, although they note that the likely cause in both cases is due to illegal firework activity. ACFD reported 185 calls for service on July 4. Hurd said the department saw an 11 percent increase in fire-related calls compared to last year's Fourth of July.
Hurd added that using fireworks in Alameda County is illegal except for "safe and sane" fireworks in Dublin, Newark, and Union City.
The Alameda County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) had extra deputies on duty on July 4 and 5 looking for illegal firework activity. More than 407 pounds of illegal fireworks were confiscated, ACSO said in a social media post.