CHANGE MY LOCATION
Fires erupt across county on hot weekend
SEE THE LATEST ON THIS STORY
Related Topics: San Mateo County
San Mateo County (Map, News) - Scorching heat roasted San Mateo County as firefighters battled four major structure fires during a 30-hour span during the weekend, all while dozens of their counterparts fought ferocious wildfires in other parts of Northern California.
Sunday evening, a different kind of fire broke out — a grassfire on San Bruno Mountain. The five-alarm fire burned at least 175 acres on the mountain and reportedly fanned smoke throughout San Mateo County.
The blaze was reported at 7:23 p.m. and quickly escalated to five alarms, according to a fire dispatcher; the flames were not declared under control late Sunday night.
Just one minor injury was reported in the four structure fires in Daly City, Foster City, Broadmoor and an unincorporated part of the county next to San Mateo between 1:40 a.m. Saturday and 7:30 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.
The 30-hour stretch of structure fires ended when a triplex home on 333 Sunfish Court in Foster City was scorched along with three cars in the driveway. The fire, which likely started in the garage, caused an estimated $1 million in damages and displaced a family of five, Foster City Battalion Chief Jim Scott said. The owner of the home and his neighbors on the tiny, cul-de-sac street were too shaken up to comment.
No one was injured in the Foster City two-alarm fire, which began at 7:30 a.m. and was controlled within 15 minutes by 36 responding personnel from five fire departments, Scott said.
On Saturday, authorities controlled a three-alarm blaze just west of state Highway 92 near San Mateo.
Two more two-alarm structure fires, one in Broadmoor near Colma and another in Daly City, also erupted Saturday. The Daly City fire caused $250,000 worth of damages to a two-story home and displaced three residents, one of whom suffered a minor injury, and was controlled in 20 minutes, North County Fire Authority Battalion Chief Ed Jansen said.
While fire authorities battled blazes on the Peninsula, three strike teams from throughout the county were sent to raging wildfires in Santa Cruz and Humboldt counties, Scott said. After battling the 630-acre Trabing Fire south of the Peninsula on Saturday, three San Mateo County strike teams headed north to the Branch Fire on Sunday, he said.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
Comments from Examiner Readers
5:42 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008 re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
Report as inappropriate
12:16 PM MST on Thu., Jun. 26, 2008
re: "Fire could summon 14th-century fear"
Report as inappropriate
12:41 PM MST on Wed., Jun. 11, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
Report as inappropriate
10:06 PM MST on Tue., May. 20, 2008
re: "Residents find their apartment complex garage up in smoke"
Report as inappropriate
12:14 PM MST on Sat., Apr. 5, 2008
re: "Firefighters uncover marijuana at Mission district fire"
Report as inappropriate
8:11 AM MST on Tue., Mar. 18, 2008
re: "Fire spreads through Mission apartments"
Report as inappropriate
7:22 AM MST on Mon., Mar. 17, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
Report as inappropriate
10:08 PM MST on Wed., Mar. 12, 2008
re: "Man’s grudge vanishes as blaze begins"
Report as inappropriate
10:53 AM MST on Fri., Dec. 7, 2007
re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"
Report as inappropriate
6:33 PM MST on Wed., Nov. 28, 2007
re: "Montgomery group homes seek help from county for fire safety"
Report as inappropriate
12:18 PM MST on Sun., Jul. 29, 2007
re: "Widow of firefighter remembers her husband"
Report as inappropriate
3:43 PM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"
Report as inappropriate
7:05 AM MST on Mon., May. 14, 2007
re: "Chief took $1,200 trip from Motorola"
Report as inappropriate
7:17 AM MST on Tue., May. 8, 2007
re: "Five victims of Harford house fire identified by the fire marshal"
Report as inappropriate
Albert Franklin said:
75,000,000 died during the Black Plague starting with 1354! What percent of this were European Christians? How does this play with America's and West Indian's Christians who were also exterminated because of their Christianity? What dreaded diseases brought them down from San Francisco to Gilroy and who is responsible other than France? If October 31 marks "All Saints Day" in Europe, why do we call Mexico's "Days of the Dead," not "All Saints Day" when it begins on the following day: 1, 2, and 3 November?
4 agree | 3 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
This story reveals yet more fear mongering propagated by the media. The real story here is not the possibility of a plague, but the desperation of an Examiner reporter looking to scoop a story. Give me a break.
6 agree | 5 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
he should have let it burn ... only section 8 drug dealers and illegal aliens lived in the apartment
451 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
that's too bad. wish him the best of luck
7 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Seven said:
In the Mission, the surprise would be if they DIDN'T find marijuana.
6 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I live just one block from the Valencia fire i would like to give massive credit to the SFFD for the way they handled this fire.. Way to go guys and gals...
15 agree | 8 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Eddie House said:
I would like to know why the police & fire department refused to investigate and take action against the tenants that discarded cigarettes onto my boat cover, on the dry grass area around my stack of firewood. On two occasions I found burned wood laminate strips placed on my deck and dry grass near the boat. But most of all want to know why after 12 or more false calls of burning trash “ and the city knows damn well they were FALSE CALLS as they broke into my home only to find firewood in the EPA woodstove” WHY DID YOU CONTINUE TO HARRASS ME ? AND NOT TAKE ACTION ON THE TENANTS THAT MADE THESE FALSE CALLS OF TRASH BEING BURNED?
490 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
When your being evicted from your apartment, you go out with a blaze of glory ? Or just another attempt to set fire to his boat that went all to wrong ? No cleaning or security depost refund for you ! But you are entitled to free room & board at the county jail !.
272 agree | 6 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
I better watch out! I'll try not to cry... When Santa Claus comes to town I'll be wearing a frown when reporters get wind that; Citizens "took" gifts...instead of ; Citizens "received" gifts... Geeze!
178 agree | 186 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Very interesting and informative article. In Nashville Tn group home providers with less than 8 clients with disabilities are now required to have sprinkler system and many will close due to a lack funds. Who can I contact to get assistance? Perrion Gordon
193 agree | 195 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
i am allans daughter kaitlyn and i just wanted to say that he will be forever missed and that he loved doing wat he was i never loved any one theway a daughter loves a father. love, kaitlyn roberts
418 agree | 268 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Who cares?
359 agree | 362 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Examiner Reader said:
Why is this a story? It was $1,200 and the city reviewed and approved. Sounds like someone is trying to make something out of nothing. Shame on you.
505 agree | 361 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree
Precious Jenkins said:
i am one of the nieces of the decreased and the cousin of the mother. this is and was a terrible fire that took 5 members of our family. annette was my father's youngest sister and one of my godmother. my father just had lost a sister 1 year and 4 days before. and now he only have one sister. this fire made our family feel that life to short to be walking around and not talking and loving your family members. a family that prays together says together!!!
767 agree | 396 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree