Brush Fire Burns Almost 500 Acres Near Concord

A three-alarm brush fire that began burning near Concord Monday afternoon has charred 492 acres and damaged three buildings, according to fire officials.

The brush fire was reported at 1:32 p.m. at Kirker Pass and Hess roads, near the former Concord Naval Weapons Station, and was about 25 percent contained as of 5 p.m., Contra Costa County Fire Prevention District Fire spokesman Robert Marshall said. Firefighters took control of the blaze at around 6 p.m. and had completely doused it before 7 p.m.

Two tool sheds and barn were destroyed in the fire, according to Marshall, but the buildings were vacant. Two nearby homes were threatened.

Kirker Pass Road was closed and a containment line was set up around the fire. Fire officials struggled to control the blaze for more than four hours and were concerned that the stronger winds picking up in the area could cause further problems. Temperatures hovered around 100 degrees Monday in Concord.

Cal Fire aircraft flew over the hillsides around Concord to battle the flames from the air.

Meanwhile, a Cal Fire helicopter was used to extinguish another fire in Concord this afternoon. A one-alarm fire reported around 4:15 p.m. destroyed a house on Smith Lane, according to ConFire.

"This is a lot of fires for a fire department that doesn't have a lot of resources," said Marshall.

The East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and the San Ramon Valley Fire Department assisted with the Kirker Pass brush fire. The cause of the fire is unknown.