Grass Fire near Cal Expo Spreads Due to Homeless Camps; Investigators Look into Possible Intentional Cause

On Sunday afternoon, a three-acre grass fire broke out near the Cal Expo in Sacramento. Firefighters were faced with a challenging situation as the thick vegetation in the area made it difficult for them to reach the fire with hoses and engines. The fire burned up to the highway, creating black smoke visible from surrounding areas.

The smoke was not only from vegetation but also from burning homeless camps in the area. Investigators are looking into the incident, as there are interested parties at the homeless camp. They will speak to witnesses to determine whether the fire was accidental or intentional. Helicopters were dropping on the fire due to limited access and the absence of fire hydrants nearby.

Traffic on Business 80 stopped around 4:45 p.m., causing delays for southbound and northbound commuters. About 30 minutes later, traffic started in both directions, and there were no injuries in the fire. Brandon Downs, digital content producer at CBS Sacramento, provided the news update.