Fire rips through 1.5 acres along Uvas Creek; officials say it’s
suspicious, may have been caused by fireworks
By Rachelle Gines Staff Writer
Gilroy – The wind whipped orange flames around the charred trunk of a dead tree between Uvas Creek and the Uvas Levee behind Gilroy High School, after a suspicious fire burned through about 1.5 acres of brush Wednesday.
Gilroy Fire Department Division Chief Clay Bentson said the fire does not look accidental.
“This fire is suspicious in nature,” Bentson said “Fireworks are a possible cause, but that is undetermined at this point.”
No one was hurt and no structures were in the immediate area of the fire. The creek is scattered with brush and dotted with dead pine and oak trees.
The fire was called in about 2pm, fire officials said. Bentson said the fire threatened a storage building at the back of the high school, but it was taken care of quickly.
The area is notorious for fires and foulplay, Bentson said.
“There are numerous fires in this place. Arsonists were here last year. I hope its not the same people. They were never caught,” Bentson said.
Like most fires, Bentson said the fire started in the grass and ran from tree to tree, climbing the branches into the canopy of leaves. He said a handful of trees were burned in the fire.
The fire took about an hour to contain, and Bentson said all three engine companies from Gilroy were at the scene, as well as two engine companies from South Santa Clara County and three engines from the California Department of Forestry.
Water from nearby fire hydrants, as well as water pumped in from the creek were used to extinguish the flames. Bentson said additional water was needed, because water tanker trucks carry about 600 to 700 gallons of water, and that thousands of gallons of water were necessary to extinguish the blaze.
Ken Carman, of Gilroy, said he was shopping at Costco with his son when they saw the flames and decided to come over.
“Every single year, the same place burns in July or August. But I don’t really know what they can do about it,” Carman said as his son stood on his toes nearby to get a better look at the firefighters.
Bentson said the case is still under investigation.
Anyone with information may call the Gilroy Fire Department at 846-0390 or the Gilroy Police Department at 846-0350.
Rachelle Gines is an intern attending San Francisco State University. Reach her at 847-7158.
