A captain with the San Jose Fire Department said the fire started in a trailer or storage unit and spread to other structures and vehicles on the property.
He said there were several propane tanks that were fueling the fire. Also, there were multiple magnesium engine blocks and putting water on burning magnesium makes things worse.
In additional to those problems, the property was littered with debris and other items... so fire crews had difficulty maneuvering hoses around piles of stuff and to access the fire.
ABC7 News talked with the property owner by phone. He said he uses the property for storage. It's unclear if anyone lived at the address.
VIDEO: Sky7 over four-alarm fire in San Jose
Smoke plume from SJ fire visible for miles
The fire broke out just after 4 p.m.
Neighbors on Ruby Place acted quickly, grabbing garden hoses to spray down a dry, grassy field-the only thing standing between their homes and the flames.
Fire crews were sent out on ember patrol as there was worry the fire could spread. A small grass fire was sparked, but was quickly put out. No other homes nor property was damaged.
People were advised to shelter in place and avoid breathing the smoke, if possible. A large, black plume could be seen for miles.
70 to 80 firefighters had the fire contained just before 5:30pm.
But, the captain said it would take much longer to extinguish the fire because of all the smoldering debris.
An arson investigator was called to the scene to help determine the cause of the fire.