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Crews battled a handful of vegetation fires around the Altamont Pass area in unincorporated Livermore last Friday and Saturday, including some authorities believe were ignited by an arsonist.
The Alameda County Fire Department reported one fire broke out near eastbound Interstate 580 along the Altamont Pass in the area of North Flynn Road in Livermore just after 6:30 p.m. Friday. Crews were able to contain the flames to 41 acres within an hour, and the firefight was deemed complete just after midnight, according to Cal Fire.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, according to ACFD.
Then on Saturday morning, the California Highway Patrol stated that several fires were lit along the right shoulder of westbound I-580 on the Altamont by a suspected arsonist. The ignitions began just after 6:15 a.m. at the I-205/I-580 interchange and continued to North Flynn Road.
Witnesses reported seeing a man wearing a blue shirt and black pants standing next to a newer-model white truck — possibly Chevrolet — adjacent to one of the fires on the Portola Avenue undercrossing, according to the CHP.
“The CHP is asking for your help in identifying the suspect and the white truck,” CHP officials said.
Later in the day Saturday, Cal Fire reported that a fire on I-580 and Grant Line Road along the Altamont Pass was contained at 55 acres. It was unclear if this was one or more of the suspected arson fires that were also knocked down that day.
All of the fires caused significant traffic problems over the Altamont between Friday evening and Saturday evening.
Anyone with information about the suspected arson fires can call CHP-Dublin at 925-828-0466 or on the weekends/after-hours at 707-641-8300.
