Residential Fence Fire in the 100 Block of Gladys Avenue

On Sunday, July 27 at 2:36 a.m., a 9-1-1 call was received reporting a fence on fire in the 100 block of Gladys Avenue. The occupants of the residence self-evacuated before firefighters arrived.

Fire units were dispatched at 2:37 a.m. and arrived on the scene at 2:42 a.m. Units arrived to find a fully involved fence on fire, endangering a single-story home. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames with a fire-attack hose line, preventing the fire from spreading into the house.

Firefighters overhauled the scene and inspected the roof of the residence to ensure there was no extension and complete extinguishment of the flames.

The fire was extinguished with no injuries. The Mountain View Police Department provided traffic control for one hour while fire units and equipment were on the scene. The residents were allowed to return to their home.

The origin of the fire was a large hedge that had been ignited by a recreational fire pit from earlier in the evening. The cause of the fire is accidental, involving a fire pit set too close to combustible materials. The estimated damage to the contents and structure is $5,000.

According to the National Fire Protection Association, recreational fires must:

• Never be left unattended, and
• Kept under three feet in diameter and two feet high, and
• Build pits only in a permanent outdoor fire ring, a portable outdoor fireplace, or a commercially designed chiminea.
• Residents are also required to install a screen to prevent embers from escaping, and
• Have a garden hose, fire extinguisher, or five-gallon bucket of water nearby.

See all of the NFPA cooking tips at https://www.nfpa.org/education.

Media Contact
Robert Maitland, Fire Department PIO
650-903-6825 or robert.maitland@mountainview.gov