A brush fire on Bradford Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta near Bethel Island burned 212 acres and two structures Monday, fire officials said.
Crews responded to the blaze on the 2,100-acre island around 1:30 a.m., and the fire did not cause any injuries, according to a statement from Gil Guerrero, a battalion chief for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District.
The area does not receive fire protection from any agency. The island is about 8 miles north of Antioch and an estimated 25-35 people live there.
Two people were evacuated from the island, Guerrero said. A ferry took one engine to the island, and it drove around looking for those who wanted to leave, he said. The California Highway Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard traveled around the outside of the island to see if anyone needed assistance leaving.
The remaining residents decided to stay behind and fight the fire themselves, Guerrero said.
Fire personnel are choosing to let the fire burn, because it’s surrounded by water on all sides. They will respond to life-threatening cases, according to Guerrero.
The last big fire on the island happened in July 2010, when a fire burned or smoldered there for nearly a week.
Bay City News contributed to this story.
