Firefighters from San Benito and Santa Clara counties were called to a put out a wildfire that burned at least 30 acres near Highway 25, five miles south of Panoche Road Tuesday evening.
The fire started at approximately 5:30 p.m. and was mostly extinguished except for a few hot spots by 10 p.m., said California Department of Forestry Firefighter Jered Koos, who was the first to arrive on scene. At first, only three to four acres were burning, but the fire quickly spread, he said.
"It was burning good for how cool it was," Koos said. "For that late in the afternoon, it was still burning pretty hot and heavy."
The temperature was around 65 degrees with winds at 5 to 10 mph. when the blaze started in an area of heavy brush, he said. The fire was located about four miles from Highway 25 but accessible via a side road, he said. No structures were threatened by the flames.
Four air tankers, two helicopters, two bull dozers, one water tender and several engines assisted in fighting the fire. Inmate hand crews spent the night putting a line around the fire to contain it. Firefighters from the CDF were expected to return today to monitor the area.
"We'll have crews on it all day," Koos said. "It shouldn't go anywhere, but you know safety first."
Koos didn't know the cause of the fire.
Up until now, CDF Fire Apparatus Engineer Jeff Kinoshita said this year's fire season has been relatively quiet. Typically, summer is when the fire danger is the highest.
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