Firefighters knock down 2-alarm house and grass blaze near Highway 99 in Fresno

Fresno firefighters Tuesday evening knocked down a two-alarm fire that sent a tower of black smoke billowing skyward near Shaw Avenue and Highway 99.

The fire erupted about 6 p.m. on Shaw just west of Hayes Avenue in several large sheds behind an abandoned home. Battalion Chief Brad Driscoll said that it spread quickly to a field of dry grass several acres in size. Fortunately, much of the field had been recently tilled, and that probably prevented it from moving toward a nearby subdivision.

Investigators at the scene were attempting to determine the cause of the blaze, which started a short time after another nearby fire was controlled by firefighters from the North Central Fire District.

Driscoll said the fire was an illustration of the danger fires erupting in tall dry grass as the weather grows warmer, and also a cautionary tale for residents considering the use of fireworks when the Fourth of July arrives.

This story was originally published June 20, 2023 at 9:34 PM.