Two Marin County sheriff's deputies beat firefighters to a brush fire threatening a home in Inverness early Friday, Sept. 25, hosing down flames and cutting vegetation before crews arrived.
The fire broke out around 2:30 a.m. on Highland Way between Laurel Avenue and Bishop Pine Preserve Road, the Marin County Fire Department told the Marin IJ. Deputies reached the scene by about 2:33 a.m., according to the sheriff's office, as reported by Patch.
The two deputies worked to hose down the fire and remove vegetation as it spread toward the home and nearby properties. They began evacuations, checked nearby structures and secured the scene before Marin County firefighters arrived and extinguished the blaze.
The fire burned about 0.14 acres, stayed contained to a backyard and caused no damage or injuries, the fire department said.
The cause is under investigation.
Chileno Valley Fire reaches full containment
The Inverness incident came as crews continued mop-up work on the much larger Chileno Valley Fire, which has burned 341 acres of ranchland west of Petaluma since it started Sept. 20. The San Rafael Fire Department was among eight agencies that responded to the blaze.
The fire reached full containment by Saturday evening, Sept. 26, according to Cal Fire's incident page and the Sacramento Bee. Mop-up operations continued after containment was reached.
No homes or buildings were destroyed and no injuries were reported, though the fire burned pasture and fencing and came close to homes, barns and livestock, the Press Democrat reported.
Kristi Lanatti Martinelli of Lanatti Ranch, whose family was trapped during the fire's initial run on Sept. 20, told the Press Democrat: "They saved our ranch and our homes and our cattle."
Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Matt Watson said the cause investigation could take weeks, the Press Democrat reported Sept. 22. National Weather Service meteorologist Joe Merchant said conditions at the time of ignition included 59-degree temperatures, humidity near 90% and no nearby lightning.
Other responding agencies included Marin County Fire, CAL FIRE, Novato Fire, Petaluma Fire, Tiburon Fire, Gold Ridge Fire and the California Highway Patrol.
Residents who spot a wildfire or suspicious smoke can call 911 or contact the Marin County Fire Department at 415-473-7191.
