Small Brush Fire Threatens Homes in Ignacio

Firefighters fended off a feisty brush fire in Ignacio and prevented a wind-swept inferno from engulfing nearby homes Tuesday afternoon, a official said.

The blaze was called in at 3:53 p.m. at 100 Alameda de la Loma, just off Alameda del Prado, and included mention that a home was on fire, Battalion Chief Jeff Veliquette said. A second alarm was called but then cancelled when units arrived to find that the fire was contained to grass and brush in a 100-foot-wide easement owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Co., he said.

"The wind pushed the fire right up to one of the homes, but it did not burn the house because firefighters were able to get in there and stop the forward progress," Veliquette said.

Part of a fence on the side of 100 Alameda de la Loma was burned, he said.  

About a quarter-acre of land was burned before the fire was deemed under control 4:08 p.m. and under control (with no threat of reigniting) at 4:45 p.m.

Engines from four Novato stations responded, and units from San Rafael Fire, Marinwood Fire and Marin County Fire helped cover the Novato stations on other calls.

Investigators are searching for a cause of the fire, Veliquette said.