3-Acre Wildfire Erupts Tuesday

Firefighters battled a 3-acre blaze Tuesday afternoon in the Cabro Ridge area of Novato that took nearly two hours to put out.

One outbuilding was destroyed, although the fire threatened multiple homes in the area south of Vineyard Road between Sinaloa and Pleasant Valley.

Dispatchers received the first call at 1:11pm about a wildfire, although it took firefighters about 10 minutes to arrive to the scene. Air tankers from CAL-Fire were called in and made several drops of fire retardant.  Marin County Fire, Marinwood and San Rafael Fire also assisted.

The fire’s progress was halted at 2:07 p.m. and it was declared contained at 2:56 p.m.

“Quick action by firefighters made a big difference today,” said Novato Fire District Battalion Chief Gerald McCarthy. “This fire had the potential to reach homes and cause significant damage.”

This is the second large wildfire in the Novato area in less than a month and fire season is just getting underway, said Battalion Chief Mike Giannini, a spokesman for Marin County Fire.

"Fuels, such as grasses, shrubs and other vegetation have had an opportunity to dry out," Giannini said. "Meanwhile stronger winds from the north and east add more oxygen which can contribute to the fire."

Fire season typically lasts until the first significant rains of the year.

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