FREMONT, Calif. --
Three firefighters were injured while combating a 15-acre vegetation fire burning in a wooded area east of Fremont Thursday afternoon, a Cal Fire captain said.
The blaze, reported shortly before 4 p.m. in the area of Niles Canyon and Palomares roads.
“I was freaking out when I saw the flames, because I knew it is where I lived,” said area resident Judy Houston. “I live in the greenest part. You could see it from Fremont.”
Alameda County Fire, Fremont Fire, Marin County Fire, and Cal Fire crews -- approximately 300 firefighters in all -- responded and immediately jumped into the fire fight
“[When we] first got on scene, we had fire making a run up the hill,” said Alameda County Fire Battalion Chief John Walsh. “[There’s} pretty steep topography in the canyon.”
Walsh said 15-20 acres had burned. But it is not necessarily the flames, but the canyon itself that is the issue.
“The wind has reduced the rapid spread,” explained Walsh. “[There were] significant injuries to personnel due to falling rock and personnel falling on the steep slope.”
Paramedics rushed in a few times after some intense moments deep in the canyon.
Two firefighters stumbled down the rugged hillsides with fire burning just below. Water drops were immediately called in. One of the injured was airlifted out of the canyon..
A third firefighter who had a helmet on was hit in the head with a boulder.
“One of the firefighters tried to catch the boulder and became injured in the process,” said Walsh. “As you see, the boulders are almost as big as I am.”
Cal Fire is calling this blaze 50 percent contained, but crews are expected to stay out here for the next two days with the knowledge that it is October and the Bay Area fire season is here.
“This is the time of the year we expect other fires,” said Walsh.
A few scattered homes are in the area, but none were damaged or destroyed. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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