Crews Get Upper-Hand On 3-Alarm Grass Fire Burning Near Fairfield Homes, Evacuations Lifted

FAIRFIELD (CBS SF) -- A wind-fueled, three-alarm fire burning in Fairfield that threatened dozens of homes in the area of Mountain Meadow Drive was under control late Monday, according to authorities.

The Mountain Meadows Fire burning near Link Road on Nelson Hill in Fairfield started around 4:40 p.m., according to the Fairfield Fire Department.

"When I was just on the phone with 911, trying to tell them approximately where it was, I would say it easily doubled from 10, 20 to 40 feet in a matter of 20-30 seconds," said resident Arjun Johal.

Cal Fire provided air support to firefighters on the ground. The blaze charred 60 acres and was under control around 7:20 p.m. according to Lt. Jausiah Jacobsen.

Evacuations were lifted for about 30 homes on Scotch Pine Court, Early Amber Court and Sierra Court and businesses on Central Place, according to fire officials.

Cordelia Road was expected to remain closed until 10 p.m., and all other roads were reopened.

No homes were damaged and no injuries were reported, according to Fairfield Fire.

With the help from fire crews, residents were able to stop the fire at the edge of the fence, keeping the flames away from their homes.

Balwinder Pahal considers herself lucky as all of her sons were home at the time of the fire. They started hosing down the flames and got buckets of water to put out any hot spots. They also got help from the air, as an air tanker and helicopter slowed down the fire being fueled by the wind.

"It was too close and stupid people. Who knows how it started but these fires are scary," said Pahal. "I'm thankful, I'm a deep prayer person and I said thank you god."

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The wind also wreaked havoc in Rodeo as two fires merged into one and burned roughly 225 acres. It stayed some distance away from the Viewpointe neighborhood but it nearly damaged tanks on Union Oil Company property.

Steve Hill with the Contra Costa County Fire Department says, "Fires are fickle in this type of wind. So there's a chance the wind will shift and drive the fire toward structures. Thankfully that did not happen in this case."