Car Fire Sparks Fast Moving Grass Fire Near Altamont Pass
TRACY (KCBS) — Traffic was snarled on eastbound Interstate Highway 580 in the Altamont Pass area because of a grass fire that was sparked by a crash.
The brush fire started because of a car fire in the area of I-580 and Grant Line Road about 9:50 a.m. on Thursday according to the California Highway Patrol.
Cal Fire Spokesman Daniel Berlant described it as a "fast-moving grass fire" and that it had burned about 20 acres shortly after 11 a.m. The fire was still burning at that time and Cal Fire crews were on the scene along with multiple local agencies.
Berlant said the fire was about five-miles west of Tracy and that there ware a lot of resources on it, including helicopters and several air tankers. He said the wind and dry conditions contributed the quick spreading of this fire.
The No. 4 eastbound lane was shut down because of the fire, which was still burning shortly before 11 a.m.
About half an hour after the car fire was reported, a crash occurred that left a car overturned in the highway's eastbound lanes near North Flynn Road.
CHP Officer James Evans said the car was on its roof and four lanes were blocked. He did not yet know if there were any injuries.
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