Residents advised to shelter-in-place due to South Bay grass fire

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) – Firefighters are monitoring a grass fire in San Jose that started around 4 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.

The fire currently straddles North San Jose and Milpitas so while it’s roughly 25 acres, smoke could be seen across the south bay this evening.

Crews say they’ll be out there all night watering the fire into the early morning hours to make sure this fire doesn’t spread. 

While the fire’s been contained, it’s not fully out.

“Currently we have containment lines drawn as Tasman, Donohue, North McCarthy, and also in San Jose. Our estimation right now is 25 acres but that could change,” Battalion Chief Galahad Zamora said.

Firefighters say the location and conditions of this fire made it difficult to access.

“Heavy dry brush, large vegetation, access and then cross jurisdictional lines because this creek borders both Milpitas and San Jose so gaining access to the fire and water supply is limited,” Zamora said.

Battalion Chief Galahad Zamora says the winds helped stop this fire from threatening any homes near Mill River Lane. The area where the fire was first reported.

However, the flames did affect multiple homeless encampments nearby.

“Cause of the fire is underdetermined but yes there are multiple homeless encampments within the area and they are currently displaced. We are working with San Jose Fire and city services to see where we could provide them support and get them relocated,” Zamora said.

Zamora says it’s taking longer than normal to put out this fire because resources are scarce when it comes to water and bodies.

“We’re all stretched pretty thin so we have multiple units working the Dixie and the Tamarack Fire. I just got back from the River Fire as of Friday and called back into work Monday so we’re doing the best we can with what we have and it’s just going to be doing more with less which we’re okay with but we just know it’s going to be an extended operation,” Zamora said.

Firefighters say they’ll be here until the morning and the fire will likely be put out or extinguished sometime tomorrow.

UPDATE: Firefighters are still working to extinguish the vegetation fire near Mill River Ln. Fire resources expected to be on scene for the next 3-4 hours. Vegetated area where fire is located is approximately 50-75 acres. No updates yet on approximate size of area burned.

— San José Fire Dept. (@SJFD) July 28, 2021

Officials estimated the grassy area where the fire is located is between 50-75 acres.

At this time, there are no reports of injuries.

Residents in the area are advised to shelter in place at this time.

No evacuation orders have been issued at this time.

Check back as this is developing.