Suspicious 2-Alarm Grass Fire In Fremont Extinguished, Evacuations Lifted
FREMONT (CBS SF) -- The Fremont Fire Department and Cal Fire extinguished a two-alarm vegetation fire near Montalban Drive and Blaisdell Way just north of a residential neighborhood in the Niles neighborhood of Fremont.
A potential criminal investigation is underway and firefighters were still on scene Monday to make sure this fire doesn't reignite.
The fire was reported at 9:59 p.m. Sunday on a steep grassy hill immediately north of subdivision of single-family homes two blocks north of Mission Boulevard. At 10:30 p.m., about five acres had burned.
They're not saying how it started, but when fire crews arrived, the situation was getting out of control. "They found an approximate five acre fire that was heading up the hillside," Fremont Fire Department Battalion Chief Chris Harper said.
Sawran Kaur saw the orange glow from her bedroom window. "I said, 'we are so close anything can happen at that time,'" she said.
As for the criminal charges that might be filed, Fremont police say rather than arson, they may seek a charge of reckless disregard to public safety.
A small number of residences near Mission Blvd., were evacuated due to the fire, but those orders were later lifted, police said.
The fire is being investigated as suspicious.
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