A brush fire, dubbed the Edgewood Fire, prompted the closure of Interstate-280 and the brief evacuation of homes near Cañada College in San Mateo County yesterday, KRON4 reported. The fire broke out around 4:53 p.m., and witnesses captured footage of people evacuating by car as the flames edged close to the college.
According to the ABC7 News, forward progress of the fire had been halted by fire crews approximately around 5:40 p.m. on the northbound side of I-280 before containing the rest of the fire by 7 p.m. This incident caused prompt action from firefighters on the scene of the 4-alarm grass fire, which initially spread rapidly due to wind conditions and a car fire believed to be the cause. Cal Fire's San Mateo-Santa Cruz Unit confirmed all forward progress had been stopped.
The Woodside Fire Protection District took immediate action, evacuating an estimated 10 homes near Laning Drive and Canada Road as a precaution, with no evacuation orders currently in place. Deputy Fire Chief Eric Zabala told ABC7 News that wind-borne embers that crossed the freeway amplified the fire's dynamics.
Residents like Dennis Payne expressed gratitude towards the swift response of firefighters who managed to halt the blaze before it could threaten more property, pointing out the benefits of the previous efforts to clear brush, which likely reduced the available fuel for the fire. CAL FIRE reported that the fire was largely contained, with the flames affecting an estimated six acres on the west side of I-280 and four acres on the east side.
No injuries or damage to homes have been reported due to the fire, with crews expecting to continue working through the night to ensure thorough containment. "We are going to be probably working through the night to make sure that everything is mopped up. And at this time, there is no evacuation order. The community is safe at this time," Zabala added via ABC7 News.
