Update May 14, 5 p.m. -- Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department says the fire in Fair Oaks yesterday evening was caused by arson. Investigators were on the scene last night and this morning. They determined the fire was intentionally set in three different locations.
The fire burned in a grassy area and briefly threatened some homes on Bluff Lane before crews knocked it down.
Smoke from the fire, driven by wind, created a large column of smoke that poured over the neighborhood, just north of the American River Parkway.
The fire burned about 15 acres of grass on the slope, reaching the edge of an area of defensible space behind the homes.
Sac Metro Fire says one home was reported to have damage to the decking, but no structural damage was found. No civilians were injured, though two firefighters suffered minor injuries.
Update May 14, 1 p.m. -- Sacramento Metorpolitan Fire says Thursday's grass fire in Fair Oaks is being investigated as arson.
The agency tweeted out that the blaze was set in three different locations. Anyone with information is being asked to call into a tipline at 916-859-3775.
Update May 14, 7:43 a.m. -- Sacramento firefighters contained a grass fire that forced the evacuation of two homes and threatened others in Fair Oaks Thursday.
Sacramento Metropolitan Fire officials are still investigating the cause of a grass fire in the Sailor Bar area of Fair Oaks Thursday afternoon.
About 15 acres of vegetation burned, and several homes were evacuated. Sac Metro Fire Captain Michelle Eidam credits a buffer of defensible space for saving the homes.
"Defensible space to those homes that are out there in an urban interface is going to be critical," says Eidam. "This is a direct evidence of that."
Suspicious circumstances were reported in the area at the time of the fire. Crews are still on the scene looking for potential clues. California National Guard members, who were training nearby, saw the smoke and helped firefighters.
Update: 7:17 p.m. -- Fire crews are mopping up the fire area, and report that no homes burned.
Update: 7:07 p.m. -- Sacramento fire officials report that two homes have been evacuated and the forward progress of the grass fire has been stopped.
Law enforcement is on the scene, as suspicious activity was reported in the area.
Original story-- A fire is threatening homes on Bluff Lane in Fair Oaks. The fire in Sacramento County started late Wednesday afternoon. KCRA News coverage shows it s burning in grassy area below homes.
Fire crews from Sacramento Metro and the Folsom Fire Department are working to put the fire out. A water-dropping helicopter from the California National Guard is also assisting crews.
The fire is burning toward the east. A huge plume of smoke is blowing over the homes, located on a bluff north of the American River. But TV coverage shows that the bluff homes have cleared out an area - defensible space – between the grass that is burning and their homes.
KCRA Coverage
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