Three-alarm wildfire scorches 34 acres in Newark

NEWARK – A Level 3 wildfire ravaged 34 acres in Newark Tuesday night, officials said.

According to Cheryl Hurd, spokeswoman for the Alameda County Fire Department, the fireplace was reported shortly before 4 p.m. on the corner of Eureka Drive and Stevenson Boulevard.

The wind-driven fire quickly spread toward the Union Pacific tracks, Hurd said, adding that trains had been stopped.

Hurd said firefighters tried to maintain the fireplace away from industrial buildings and needed to contend with trees and a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. power pole that caught fire.

At about 5:30 p.m., firefighters sounded a 3rd alarm and extra vehicles from the Hayward and Oakland fire departments were called to the scene, Hurd said.

According to Hurd, the fireplace's spread was stopped around 7 p.m. and trains resumed running about an hour later.

No injuries were reported and the reason behind the fireplace is currently under investigation, Hurd said.

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