Marsh Complex wildfires ‘holding strong,’ more than 750 acres burned

A firefighter injured during a battle to contain a series of wild fires burning Saturday near Mount Diablo was expected to be released from a hospital Monday afternoon, and crews began re-opening roads near the area, authorities said.

Crews were keeping the Marsh Complex fire from gaining any momentum, and they had it 85 percent contained by noon Monday, spokesman and Division Chief Jonathan Cox of Cal Fire said. The fires had burned 757 acres.

The injured firefighter has been hospitalized since Saturday after suffering from heat-related illness and injuries, Cox said. The injuries were not life-threatening, he said.

Authorities opened Marsh Creek Road without restrictions around 9:30 a.m. after keeping it closed to all commuters except residents through Sunday night and into Monday morning.

Marsh Creek Road is now open with no restrictions.

Cal Fire is reporting that the Marsh Complex fire is now 757 acres and 85% contained.

— CoCo Sheriff PIO (@cocosopio) August 5, 2019

“The fires are holding pretty strong,” Cox said. “We’re very optimistic that we have the upper hand.”

Cal Fire lifted a shelter-in-place order to residents around 9 p.m. Saturday, when they opened the area to residents.

Crews have been fighting the fires since around 3:15 a.m. Saturday, when the first one was reported in the area of the 7000 block of Morgan Territory Road. In all, 12 fires were reported and then merged into three larger ones, Cox said.

The fires were at the base of Mount Diablo, not far from the Marsh Creek Detention Facility. Investigators are looking into how they started.

They have not burned down any buildings or homes.