Two fires on Saturday tore through separate houses in Oakley — one after an explosion, and the other after flames spread out of control from a barbecue grill, authorities said.
A total of eight people were displaced from the fires, which happened about 14 hours apart on opposite ends of town, said Battalion Chief Gil Guerrero of the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
The first fire was reported at about 5:24 a.m. Saturday, after a man said he heard a pop or an explosion outside his house at 5022 Sandmound Blvd., on the far eastern edge of Oakley, Guerrero said. The explosion left the side of the house in flames, and much of the home was damaged by the time firefighters were able to bring the blaze under control.
The cause of the fire remains unclear, though investigators do not suspect foul play, Guerrero said. The man, his daughter and his adult son planned to stay with nearby family members.
Another fire erupted across town Saturday evening when flames from a barbecue grill spread out of control, heavily damaging one house, singeing another and threatening two others.
The blaze was reported at 6:58 p.m. at 4865 Claret Court, and firefighters arrived nine minutes later to find flames chewing through nearby vegetation, a few trees and a fence, Guerrero said.
Firefighters brought the fire under control by 7:18 p.m., but the flames had already heavily damaged much of the home, along with the awning of a nearby house, Guerrero said. One woman was taken to a nearby hospital as a precaution due to difficulty breathing.
A family of five living at the fire-ravaged house planned to stay with nearby relatives. Neither family affected by the two fires Saturday requested help from the American Red Cross, Guerrero said.
Investigators are not yet sure how the flames from the barbecue grill got out of control, or whether the barbecue grill was left unattended.
Still, Guerrero said that residents planning any barbecues over the holiday weekend should do so safely, given the region’s dry conditions and windy forecast.
“Make sure that your barbecue is in good working order and that you always attend it once you’ve got it started,” Guerrero said. “That’s the main thing, is to really pay attention when you’re cooking outside.”
Source: www.mercurynews.com