Car fire spreads into vegetation, burns 20 acres near Pittsburg

BAY POINT — A car fire on a bypass road connecting eastern and central Contra Costa County spread into vegetation early Friday, burning 20 acres and threatening homes, fire officials said.

Investigators were working to determine if the two-alarm blaze was set intentionally, spokesperson Capt. Chris Toler said. The car appeared to be abandoned when crews arrived about 1:50 a.m. to the Pittsburg side of Bailey Road, suggesting that the blaze had not started with a malfunction or engine fire.

The blaze did not cause any injuries, and fire crews did not have to evacuate anyone. The road crosses the hills and ends in Concord.

“It was close to being much worse,” Toler said. “It’s December, but we still have dry, brown grass. The temperature and the weather and the coldness played in our favor. But a 20-acre grass fire in December is definitely not normal for us.”

Toler said the homes that the fire threatened had cleared vegetation and large defensible space. That also played a role in keeping the structures out of harm, he said.

Forty-four firefighters responded, and ConFire crews also received help from Cal Fire’s Santa Clara Unit.