The Little Fire that sent plumes of smoke drifting over Contra Costa County on Tuesday, July 21, burned 1,007 acres in the Sunol hills before firefighters stopped its forward progress, according to Cal Fire.
Crews from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District deployed to the blaze under a mutual aid agreement, joining Cal Fire, the Alameda County Fire Department, and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department. By Wednesday morning, July 22, the fire was 40% contained and all evacuation orders had been lifted, Cal Fire reported.
The fire ignited around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday near Vallecitos and Little Valley Roads in unincorporated Alameda County, according to Cal Fire. Dry brush, high temperatures, and wind-driven conditions pushed the blaze rapidly through the hills east of Pleasanton, threatening the Ruby Hill neighborhood.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Raul Medina told ABC7 on Tuesday that the biggest challenges were "limited access to the head of the fire" and wind conditions.
At its peak, the firefight involved three air tankers, three helicopters, bulldozers, and hand crews, according to Cal Fire.
Injuries confirmed
Cal Fire confirmed one firefighter was injured during operations. Separately, unconfirmed reports on CLAYCORD.com indicated two firefighters were transported to a hospital after a fire engine rolled over. Cal Fire has not confirmed the rollover or additional injuries. No civilian injuries or structural damage were reported.
Evacuations
At the height of the fire Tuesday evening, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office ordered evacuations for six zones covering parts of unincorporated Sunol and Pleasanton's Ruby Hill area. A temporary shelter opened at the Pleasanton Senior Center, 5353 Sunol Blvd.
By Tuesday night, orders for three zones had been lifted, according to the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services. The remaining zones were cleared by Wednesday morning, and ABC7 confirmed all evacuations were lifted as of July 22.
Air quality and local impact
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory Tuesday evening. Residents across Walnut Creek and other parts of Contra Costa County reported seeing thick smoke columns to the south, with posts on community news sites noting visible haze throughout the evening.
The fire was the second wildfire in the East Bay hills in less than a week. The Morgan Fire burned near Clayton in unincorporated Contra Costa County on Friday, July 17, also drawing Con Fire crews, according to the East Bay Times.
What's next
The cause of the Little Fire remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire. No final containment figure beyond 40% has been confirmed in available reports. Residents can monitor updates through Cal Fire's incident page and the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services.
