Though Fourth of July brought Contra Costa County’s largest vegetation fire of 2021, the number of Independence Day incidents was actually down from 2020.
A beefed-up Contra Costa County Fire Protection District was nevertheless busy Sunday, responding to 53 reports of fires, most of those fireworks-related and between 9 p.m. and midnight. Forty-eight fires burned only vegetation, with five involving structures. None of the structure fires went to a second alarm.
“We had a high level of activity,” said Con Fire spokesman Steve Hill. “But we started planning for it pretty much the day after last Fourth of July. We put a lot of preparation into it.”
Overall, incidents were down 20 percent from 2020, Hill said, despite conditions being much worse this year.
“The weather was our friend last night,” Hill said Monday. “There were lower temperatures and higher humidity. It was windy up until 8 or 8:30 last night. Which worked out pretty well.”
Con Fire got help from Cal Fire corralling a 35-acre blaze off Kirker Pass Road near Pittsburg, started by a car fire just after 1 p.m.
There were also two small fires started by the Con Fire-approved fireworks show at the Concord Pavilion. Both were extinguished quickly.
Hill said two other county-sanctioned fireworks shows went off without incident.
The county’s most serious structure fire occurred on Ross Circle in Martinez, starting in vegetation and spreading via fence line to some exterior structures.
Most of the fire-related calls came in the Pittsburg-Antioch area. Seven occurred in Concord, two in Pleasant Hill, two in Martinez, and one in Walnut Creek. The only calls in West County came from El Sobrante and San Pablo.
Hill said there were also fireworks-related medical calls, details of which he said the district will have later this week.
Salty here.
Apparently I was sensored with my 1st post on other thread. Pretty sure this one wont get posted.
The IDIOTS on Concord city council and the Mayor should ALL BE removed from office. WTF were you thinking allowing fireworks at the Pavilion. Several FIRES on a WINDY day… GEE LETS just fire them off on the Peaks of Mt Diablo.
You damn MORONS.
Thankfully Fire Department took care of it. Else you dumba$$’s would be paying for our houses being BURNT down.
What hell were u thinking!!
Salty OUT!
Could have been worse. What if they had decided to reduce the fire danger by moving the event indoors to the high school gym.
Salty, first of all it wasn’t that windy. If you were there you’d of known that.
The “peaks of Mt. Diablo? Wow, you really need a reliable map. The Pavilion has had fireworks shows in the past. No difference now except for the thorough brainwashing the gaslit media spews at you. There were some mini little fires set that the fire department was on hand to take care of. Nothing got out of hand like many other areas. In fact, it was very safe & everyone in attendance had a great time. As for your “what the hell were they thinking” comment, here is the answer … THEY HAD EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL 100%! Safety was first. So go take your exaggerated commentary & regurgitate it in private, where only judgemental people reside.
Salty here again.
@Landana. 1st off I loved the SNARKY reply with your $5 vocabulary.
2ndly I live in Clayton off Marsh Creek and apparently you need to be educated on the area. It was WINDY & even someone that goes right into attack mode can look up at the hills and notice they are not golden brown, but DARK brown and ready to go up.
Now dont get me wrong I’m not NIMBY but all it wont take much to make our area look like the housing developments in North Bay that got wiped out.
That is where I am coming from. Simple dialog vs insults and attacks would suffice.
Have a nice day.
SALTY OUT and DONE w this thread.!!
Well Laura! A little opinionated are we? No room for the comments of others if they contradict your view? Seem like there is a lot of that going on in this state/country lately!
Problem with your post is that Salty is correct.
“Regurgitate it in private where only judgemental people reside”? Better look in the mirror!