Fire Near Mount Diablo Grows to 800 Acres

The fire that broke out on the eastern side of Mount Diablo has burned somewhere between 800 and 1,000 acres according to NBC New York.

Officials from the California Fire Department confirmed that the fire is ten percent contained and is still growing. A strike team of engines from San Ramon Valley Fire and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District responded for structure protection.

The response includes 25 engines, four air tankers, two helicopters, six crews, four bulldozers per CalFire. About 50 to 75 structures have also been threatened by the fire. Homes on Curry Canyon Road and Oak Hill Lane are under mandatory evacuation. Some homeowners were on top of their roofs spraying them down.

The said homeowners have also been asked to head to the Clayton Community Library at 615 Clayton Road for shelter. Volunteer are there and have food and water for anyone who might be in need of it. Clayton resident Andy Cuellar said he was concerned about what could happen.

"There's 60 acres of open land behind my house, 40 acres of open land on the other side of my house and if a spot fire hits either one of those two properties, then I'm kind of sandwiched in between," Cuellar said. "That's the fate of most of us who live out here."

Those with disabilities who are not able to leave their homes on their own should call 911 immediately, according to the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department.

CalFire said it expects the fire to continue to grow for two reasons--weather conditions and firing operations, which are fires CalFire is setting in an attempt to steer the fire into terrain that isn't as steep.

Throughout the day, a massive plume of smoke could be seen from all over the Bay Area, including by people driving across the Bay Bridge. The fire started at about 1 p.m. Sunday.