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Local - Crime & Courts

Saturday, Apr. 25, 2009

Grass fire slows Interstate 5 traffic

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A grass fire in western Stanislaus County near Newman and Gustine burned 75 acres near Interstate 5 on Friday afternoon and backed up southbound traffic on the interstate for several miles, officials said.

There were minor injuries when a vehicle rear-ended another vehicle that had slowed on the interstate because of the smoke, said Steven Hall, division chief with the West Stanislaus Fire Protection District. Hall said the fire was west of the interstate between Stuhr and Sullivan roads and burned to the edge of the interstate. He said southbound traffic was backed up for about six miles for about an hour as the California Highway Patrol guided drivers past the fire.

The fire was an accident and its cause remains under investigation. "Cal Fire believes it may have been caused by a beekeeper," Hall said.

The fire was reported about 4 p.m. by a driver on I-5, according to the Stanislaus Regional 911 center. About two dozen firefighters, five engines, a water tender, a helicopter and bulldozer from West Stanislaus, Newman and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection put out the blaze.