Two-Alarm Grass Fire Brews Up Atop Buckingham Drive in Moraga; Some Evacuations Underway

Firefighters worked to get ahead of a fast-moving blaze reported at the top of Buckingham Drive in Moraga Monday, evacuating some neighbors from their homes as the fire pushed up the hillside.

Traffic was stopped on Moraga Road as fire apparatus attempted to access the fire scene via Buckingham. Fire commanders estimated that about 10 acres of grassland had burned shortly after the blaze was reported at 1:38 p.m.

A second alarm was called and additional resources summoned at 2:17 p.m. By 3 p.m. two helicopters and 5 air tankers were on the scene and pouncing on the fire lines.

Evacuations were conducted from some 20 residences on Buckingham and Natalie drives and so far it appears to be holding there though the fire is expected to spread, burning to the northeast.

Moraga police are attempting to clear civilian traffic from the area and are asking people to avoid using Moraga Road, with PG&E called on to restore some surface plating to Saint Mary’s Road – which has been under construction these last few weeks – so people can leave on that road.

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Fire investigators have determined that the fire was accidentally caused buy equipment working in the area.