Fires in hills near Calaveras Reservoir are 70% contained
MILPITAS >> Fire crews have largely contained a group of fires that have burned more than 125 acres in the hills east of Milpitas since sparking Saturday afternoon, authorities said Sunday.
The fires started just before noon off Calaveras Road near Felter Road, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire, and were dubbed collectively as the Reservoir Fire. They were burning in both Alameda and Santa Clara counties, and as of Sunday afternoon, they were 70% contained.
While roughly 300 firefighters as well as firefighting aircraft were used at the peak of the blaze Saturday afternoon, by Sunday Cal Fire had about 85 firefighters still working the area, officials said.
There were no reports of injuries, and the fires were not threatening any homes or other buildings as they burned in the open and grassy area near the Calaveras Reservoir.
Firefighters initially said there were two blazes in the area but later updated that figure to six.
Cal Fire officials said the cause of the fires is under investigation.
Gray smoke from the fires and aircraft circling overhead could be seen from Downtown San Jose on Saturday afternoon.
Calaveras Road is closed between Felter Road in Santa Clara County and Oakridge Road in Alameda County near Sunol due to rocks and debris rolling into the road off the charred hills, and fire equipment in the roadway according to Cal Fire Division Chief Jim Crawford.
Crawford said crews will stay at the fire overnight to extinguish hot spots in the interior of the fire lines, and there will be another shift of firefighters expected to continue monitoring the fire today.
As of 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Cal Fire reported eight active fires in the state, including the 250-acre Lopez Fire in San Luis Obispo County, that was 10% contained and the 5,200 acre South Fire in Tehama County reported at 61% contained.