GILROY
– Firefighters controlled a series of 14 grass fires this
morning after a southbound train sparked the blazes about 3 p.m.
Sunday, a California Department of Forestry official said.
GILROY – Firefighters controlled a series of 14 grass fires this morning after a southbound train sparked the blazes about 3 p.m. Sunday, a California Department of Forestry official said.
The largest, north of Morgan Hill, reached 250 acres and threatened four mobile homes and a Calpine electric plant under construction, said Pam Rhoten, CDF spokesperson.
The other fires were much smaller. The total area burned was 270 acres and consisted of grass and light brush, CDF reported.
All 14 fires started along the Union Pacific railroad tracks between South San Jose and Gilroy, according to Rhoten.
Rhoten said the hot, dry and windy weather – perfect fire conditions – helped spread the flames west toward the Santa Cruz foothills.
At the CDF’s request, the Union Pacific train stopped south of Morgan Hill. Union Pacific spokesman John Bromley said the train’s crew and a CDF representative inspected the train and “found nothing that would have started any fires.” The train was bound toward Hollister.
Firefighters contained all the blazes Sunday night and finally brought the large blaze under control at about 8 a.m. Monday. Crews from the CDF, Santa Clara County Fire Department, Gilroy Fire Department and San Jose Fire Department assisted, and East Bay Regional Parks provided a helicopter.
Calpine spokesperson Katherine Potter said the electric company’s unfinished facility was unharmed.
The local area is in particular fire danger at present, according to Rhoten.
“The fuel is burning right now like it would later in the season,” she said. “We have a concern because it’s starting so early. We had record-setting temperatures in April, and it really did a lot of drying out the grass and brush.”
