Three south Modesto morning blazes keep firefighters busy

Modesto firefighters had a busy Saturday morning with three calls in quick succession in south Modesto.

The Modesto Fire Department was called at 7:20 a.m. for a vegetation fire at Legion Park off Tioga Drive. Firefighters found a small grass fire, Battalion Chief Randy Anderson said. The fire was quickly contained and did not spread, he said.

A couple minutes later, at 7:22 a.m., the department received a call for a fire in the 1200 block of Inyo Avenue. Crews found a large pile of debris in the backyard of a residence in flames. The yard fence and a nearby shed had also caught fire, Anderson said. Five engines and two chief officers were called to the scene, and crews stayed for about an hour and a half. Anderson estimated damage of around $6,000.

At 7:40 a.m., firefighters received another call for a vegetation fire, this time across from John Thurman Field near the Tuolumne River off Neece Drive. The crews that had been working the Legion Park fire responded to find about a half-acre of brush burning heavily, Anderson said. A vehicle was also found engulfed.

Modesto fire crews fought the blaze on the west bank of the river, and a crew was placed on the east side off Zeff Road to ensure it did not spread, Anderson said. About three-quarters of an acre burned before the fire was put out by four grass rigs and a water tender. The vehicle was reported as a total loss.

There were no injuries at any of the three fires, and causes were still under investigation.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 1:02 PM with the headline "Three south Modesto morning blazes keep firefighters busy."