Unhappy California cows Unhappy California cows (July 29, 2005)

Wildfire means moving day for bovines Wildfire means moving day for bovines (July 29, 2005)

Jeb Bing

Worried ranchers watched as firefighters from throughout the area worked to contain a more than 400 acre grass fire near Pleasanton's as yet unopened Callippe Preserve golf course in Happy Valley Tuesday. The fire appeared to have been sparked by highway flares used to also torch an abandoned car near the intersection of I-680 and Hwy 84.

Fire Chief William Cody said road flares were found at the base of the fire. An arson investigation is underway to determine whether they were the source of the blaze.

Responders worked with a local rancher to move a large herd of cattle away from the fire, while keeping them off the new golf course. Their efforts protected 20 homes threatened by the flames. "I want to emphasize that we were able to keep the fire away from the ranchers' homes because they have done a good job of keeping a wide area around their houses clear of brush," Cody said.

Cody's department fielded more than 300 calls from concerned ranchers and residents in the Livermore and Pleasanton communities.

The Livermore-Pleasanton department received the first call about the fire from a motorist using a cell phone who also reported an abandoned car on fire nearby. Under a mutual aid agreement, firefighters from Cody's department, neighboring cities and county fire departments from Alameda, Santa Clara and San Francisco sped to the scene. Four air tankers and five helicopters flew overhead dropping water on the fire, after scooping it out of the Applied Biosystems' lake off Sunol Boulevard and reservoirs on the golf course.

The fast-moving grass fire southwest of the city's new golf course started around 3 p.m. and burned east of I-680 and north of Hwy. 84. It produced huge billows of smoke and vapor that could be seen for miles. Traffic was snarled for several hours before the fire was finally put out at 6 p.m.

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