Brush Fire at CSUMB

A one-acre brush fire occurred north of Intergarrison Rd. and Eighth Ave. at California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB) at approximately 2:30 p.m. on Sept. 28. The brush fire caused a temporary closure of Intergarrison.

The fire took twenty minutes to contain, but fire crewmen remained on scene for another hour to ensure that all embers were extinguished and to mop the damage from the brush fire. 

Fire crewmen from Presidio of Monterey Fire Department, Marina Fire Department, Seaside Fire Department and the Monterey Regional Fire Department responded to the fire.

On scene were three fire engines.

“It could have been a power spike. A power line could have fallen, sparking a fire, but we don’t know for sure,” Presidio of Monterey Division Chief Bradford Hilary said. “We are still investigating.”

After the statement from the division chief, a PG&E service truck came on scene in order to investigate the power issue since East Campus had suffered a power outage.

On his way to East Campus, Sgt. Snell of CSUMB University Police, smelled a “whiff of grass burning and reported the fire,” Hilary said.

Hilary recommended that in order to avoid future brush fires, students should refrain from flammable activity around the brush.

“It’s the end of summer, so try not to smoke or light pyrotechnics [around the brush].”