An incredibly stubborn fire on Bradford Island continues to burn with virtually no resistance from firefighters, even though properties have been lost and stock lives are threatened.
In fact, out in the Delta, there are several leveed-up island tracts that have, in effect, no official fire protection.
Bradford Island, in eastern Contra Costa County, accessible only by ferry, caught fire early Monday morning and has been burning ever since. Many of the 48 residents were evacuated.
The 2,200 acre island, used for wheat farming, cattle grazing, and natural gas extraction, is actually reclaimed peat moss.
The leveed up, below sea level tract, burns even more doggedly than normal farmland.
"And it's gonna require us to flood the island to be able to fully extinguish this fire," said Steve Aubert of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.