SACRAMENTO, CA – Firefighters from across the Sacramento region had a busy day Tuesday afternoon trying to extinguished two large multi-alarm grass fires along the American River Parkway.
Crews were initially dispatched to a report of a grass fire near Truxel Road and Garden Highway. Crews arrived and quickly found a large grass fire burning. Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District’s “Copter 2” helicopter responded to make water drops and get an aerial view of the fire.
While crews were working on that fire, another large grass fire started to the east near Northgate Blvd. and Highway 160.
A second alarm was called on both incidents, bringing firefighters in from agencies across the region including Sacramento Fire, Sacramento Metropolitan Fire, West Sacramento Fire and Cosumnes Fire.
The second fire along Northgate Blvd. started giving firefighters issues, burning in some thick brush and trees. Fire crews from the first fire near Truxel Road were called over to assist crews on the Northgate fire. After a harsh ground attack and water drops from the helicopter, crews started gaining an advantage on the fire.
During the extensive fire fight of the second fire, the first fire near Truxel Road took off on firefighters. The fire eventually caught up to Garden Highway and jumped the roadway to the north, burning very close to a nearby apartment complex. Fire crews quickly assembled on Garden Highway to extinguish the fire and prevent it from burning into nearby apartments. Metro Fire’s helicopter made water drops on the southern portion of the fire while ground crews focused on the north side.
After about two and a half hours it appeared the firefighters had contained the two separate grass fires.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. Sacramento Fire investigators are on scene and had talked to some person of interests, but no arrests have been reported at time of posting.
This post will be updated with more information as it becomes available.
