Scenic Fire: 'All clear' given for Port Costa after brush fire burned dangerously close to homes

PORT COSTA, Calif. (KGO) -- Authorities in the East Bay have given Port Costa an "all clear" after a fast-moving wildfire burned dangerously close to homes Thursday afternoon.

The Scenic Fire broke out near Carquinez Scenic Drive and Canyon Lake Drive, east of Crockett.

At the height of the fire, authorities issued an evacuation order and road closures for that area which affected around 200 people.

WHAT TO KNOW: Fires currently burning in Sunol, Benicia, Vacaville, Port Costa

According to CAL FIRE, aircraft on scene reported seeing "erratic fire behavior" as the blaze burned more than 100 acres.

The fire is 50% contained as of 9 p.m. Thursday.

SKY7 was overhead as crews worked to contain the flames, blanketing homes with red retardant and making several water drops.

Many Port Costa residents are breathing a sigh of relief Thursday night and thanking firefighters for protecting their homes.

That included Laurie Beauchemin and her family, whose backyard was right next to the fire line.

RELATED: Crews battling 15-acre brush fire threatening structures near Sunol

ABC7 News caught up with her as she was returning home to a house she expects to be covered in fire retardant.

"We'll wash it off. It could be, the whole (home) could be burned down," Beauchemin said.

Fire officials say the quick response by a trifecta of fire crews helped stop the spread of the blaze early on.

"Certainly CAL FIRE along with Contra Costa Fire were a big help today in slowing this fire," said Crockett-Carquinez Fire Department spokesperson Steve Trotter.

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But that erratic fire behavior and difficult terrain made the fire hard to initially fight.

"It's a difficult area to get into. There's very little road access. And so crews are walking in," Trotter said.

Now, local residents say they're just happy that, despite the scare, things weren't worse.

"It could have easily been a disaster today so we're very lucky," said Beauchemin.

And thanks to the fire crews for a job well done.

"That is what needs to go out is, the response and how well it was handled by the fire crew," said Port Costa resident, Mitch Polzak.

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