East Contra Costa Fire Protection District representatives estimated late-season rains and relatively mild spring weather would delay the start of fire season until June 1, but a fire Friday afternoon, May 31, in unincorporated Brentwood proved them wrong by about seven hours.
Just before 5 p.m., crews were called to the 4000 block of Sellers Avenue north of the intersection with Sunset Road by reports of a vegetation fire that was threatening structures and a residence. When the first ECCFPD engine arrived, a barn was fully engulfed and fire snaked through tall grass and vegetation, igniting other structures. Fire burned right up to the foundation of the home, but the firefighters’ efforts kept it from going up in flames. “We made a quick attack” said Fire Marshal Steve Aubert. “The guys from the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District made a great save. They saved the residential structure that was on the property.”