In Sacramento, a grass fire near Cal Expo was contained on Sunday afternoon. The fire had spread to about three acres and reached the freeway, causing traffic congestion. The dense vegetation in the area made it difficult for crews to access the fire with hoses and engines.
The thick black smoke observed by people was due not only to the grass and vegetation burning but also the homeless camps in the vicinity catching fire. Investigators are looking into potential persons of interest within the homeless encampment, and they will also interview witnesses to determine the cause of the fire. Helicopters were deployed to make water drops due to the difficult terrain and lack of fire hydrants in the area.
Traffic on Business 80 came to a halt near Exposition Boulevard for southbound vehicles and the bridge over the American River for northbound travelers. Although traffic flow resumed in both lanes about 30 minutes later, there have been no reports of injuries resulting from the fire.