Quick response keeps foothills wildfire from spreading

A grass fire across the street from the River Island Country Club quickly spread today, burning approximately 20 acres before it was completely contained less than a half hour later.

“The call came in about 5 p.m.,” said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection battalion chief and incident commander Stan Machado. “We originally dispatched six CalFire engines, two U.S. Forest Service engines and the county sent two patrols. We also had a bulldozer and two air tankers.”

Walt Groves, a volunteer firefighter with the Springville station, said he was the first to arrive on the scene.

“It had only burned a couple of acres but it was moving fast at a good pace,” Groves said. “Patrol 22 arrived next — they were the first engine to arrive, then Battalion 2. The three of us went in and tried to cut the head off and slow it down. Then everyone else started showing up.”

It did not take long for the fire to be contained, Machado said.

“It was burning to the east really quick but we cut it off,” Machado said. “We wanted to keep it from going over the hill. In the flats we can still get to it.”

The cause under the fire is under investigation by CalFire, Machado said.

Only a few feet from the charred edges stood Maria Rosario in a mobile office for a local construction company.

“I had not even noticed the fire,” Rosario said. “The neighbors ran over here to tell me to call the fire department. I looked out the window and I saw it and it scared me. We called the fire department and they were quick to arrive and they put out the fire right away. I’m thankful no one got hurt.”

-- Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047, or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.