Vallejo fire close to homes started near homeless camp

VALLEJO, Calif. -- A grass fire that threatened structures Wednesday afternoon in Vallejo started near a homeless encampment, a fire department official said.

The fire, reported at 3:40 p.m. in marshland west of the junction of state Highways 37 and 29, burned 5 to 10 acres before it was contained and threatened around 10 homes on Sonora Pass Road, officials said.

It went to five alarms for the grass portion and two alarms for structure protection.

Firefighters searched a homeless encampment where the fire appears to have started for victims and were able to rescue a kitten from the flames.

Light to moderate winds in the area fueled the fire, producing 20 to 30-feet high flames and making it difficult to contain, officials said.

Assistance was called in from surrounding agencies and a Cal Fire helicopter assisted in the attack, officials said.