A fast-moving brush fire erupted in Antioch, California on Wednesday evening, burning hundreds of acres and leading to temporary evacuation warnings for nearby neighborhoods. The blaze, named the Somersville Fire, sparked around 7:28 p.m. on June 18 near Somersville Road and James Donlon Boulevard.

Fire crews reported that within just two hours, the fire had grown from a small blaze to more than 200 acres. By the latest update, the fire had burned approximately 290 acres. Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (Con Fire) and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) worked together to battle the flames.

“I opened the door and just seen a lot of smoke,” said George Johnson, a local resident who chose to evacuate. “Normally it’s clear up here, so when it’s fire and you get that dark smoke, it was a little bit too dark than it normally is at the time.”

His wife Lucia added, “It was very scary, very scary. I just grabbed our things and prayed and got out as quickly as we could.”

One person was taken to the hospital with minor injuries related to the fire. Four people in total received treatment for smoke inhalation, according to fire officials.

Around 8:50 p.m., fire authorities issued evacuation warnings for several neighborhoods east of the fire, including areas near Grimsby Drive, Hamlin Drive, Lafayette Drive, Tabora Drive, Silver Creek Circle, and James Donlon Boulevard. The Antioch Police Department opened an evacuation point at Canal Park for affected residents.

Similar Posts

In what came as a relief to many locals, the evacuation warnings were lifted shortly before 10 p.m. after firefighters began to gain control of the blaze. By about 10:10 p.m., ground crews had successfully halted the forward progress of the fire.

The fire reportedly started inside Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve and threatened several neighborhoods. In some cases, flames reached into backyards, but fire officials confirmed no houses were damaged.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued an air quality advisory for eastern Contra Costa County due to smoke from the fire. The agency warned residents that “conditions can change rapidly and the amount and location of smoke at ground level is hard to predict.” They advised people to stay indoors with doors and windows closed to avoid smoke exposure.

Fire crews remained on scene overnight and into Thursday to continue containment efforts. As of the latest update, the fire was 50% contained.

The cause of the Somersville Fire remains under investigation.

Residents of an assisted living facility within the evacuation zone were moved as a precaution, though they were able to return after the warnings were lifted.

Con Fire reported that despite the fire’s rapid growth and proximity to homes, their aggressive response helped prevent any structural damage. Firefighters are continuing to strengthen containment lines and mop up hot spots to ensure the fire doesn’t spread further.