Breaking: Residents evacuated, I-80 closed at Carquinez Bridge as fire breaks out, jumps freeway

VALLEJO — Hundreds of residents in Vallejo and Crockett have been asked to evacuate after a fast-moving wildfire broke out Sunday morning and jumped the Carquinez Bridge on Interstate 80.

“Residents south of Pomona Street, west of Crockett Blvd and east of Highway 80 should evacuate now,” the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said through their community warning system.

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As firefighters work to contain the blaze, I-80 has been shut down from California State Route 4 near Hercules to Interstate 780 in Vallejo. Cummings Skyway has also been closed at Crockett Blvd, according to California Highway Patrol.

I-80 CLOSURE DUE TO FIRE between Hwy-4 & I-780 in Vallejo, including the Carquinez bridge as well, due to the Glen Cove fire in Vallejo. Unknown opening time. I-80 e/b traffic is being diverted to Hwy-4 e/b towards Martinez. Cummings Skyway is also closed at Crockett Blvd. pic.twitter.com/kdNZS5047e

— CHP – Contra Costa (@320PIO) October 27, 2019

An evacuation warning is in effect for the entire town of Crockett, which means residents are not required to flee yet but should be ready to if needed. The community of about 3,000 residents in northwest Contra Costa County is just a little over a mile from NuStar Energy, where a storage tank exploded on Oct. 15. and also caused the closure of I-80 in both directions.

Residents who are fleeing Crockett can seek refuge at the county’s evacuation center, located at the Hercules Swim Center at 2001 Refugio Valley Road in Hercules, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District.

At about 9 a.m. Sunday, two vegetation fires broke out near a residential area of Vallejo, on the east side of I-80, called Glen Cove, according to the Vallejo Firefighters Association.

By 10 a.m., the California State University Maritime Academy, located on the west side of I-80, had reported that the fire had jumped the freeway. The academy, which serves about 1,000 students, asked everyone to evacuate its campus.

Cal Maritime update: Administrators are reporting campus has been safely evacuated. 253 Georgia St. downtown Vallejo is available for evacuees.

— Cal Maritime (@Cal_Maritime) October 27, 2019

 

This story will be updated. Check back for details.