The flames broke out just after 3:30 p.m. near Marina Vista Ave. and Sunrise Lane.
The fire was very small but generated a lot of smoke and quite a scare in Marin County.
It was burning near the Southern Fire Line Road in an area with moderate brush and light timber. It was actually burning near a redwood grove.
Firefighters from Larkspur, Corte Madera, and San Rafael responded to the fire, ready to protect nearby homes. Fortunately the flames were put out before they could spread to properties.
A helicopter dropped water and air tankers dropped fire retardant. That's all it took to put the flames out.
Firefighters also credit the favorable weather conditions.
"Right now there's very little wind, there's not an afternoon wind," Corte Madera Fire Department Battalion Chief Peter David said. "It is hot. Field moistures are dry on this hillside, like all over the Bay Area. The wind's a big contributing factor in any fire for its movement. Today we were lucky that there were no winds up here."
"The response was very quick," Larkspur resident Sarah Cooney said. "I mean, this place was swarming, between the helicopter, the planes, the trucks, the police, they were on it."
In all, the fire burned about a quarter acre.
Crews will remain on scene all night to make sure it doesn't flare up again.
The cause is under investigation.
