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Brush fire guts Marysville homeless camps
At least three homeless encampments were gutted by a fast-moving brush fire Tuesday morning in the former Hollywood Trailer Park area, just east of the Marysville levee, authorities said.
Nobody was hurt, but at least four residents were displaced, Marysville police Sgt. Chris Sachs said.
"I heard someone screaming, looked out and saw the smoke," said Vincent Duval, an encampment resident. "I grabbed my blood pressure medicine and got out and called 911 on my cell."
Duval, 58, said he has lived in the area for about 15 years.
Western winds blew flames away from the most of the encampments, but three campsites were ruined in the blaze, which was fueled by dry tall grass and trees. Large columns of thick black smoke could be seen for several miles.
No structures were threatened.
Six campsites were evacuated for a short time while firefighters contained the flames.
Sixteen firefighters from CalFire-Marysville, the Linda Fire Protection District and a CalFire crew responded to the flames around 10:15 a.m. The fire was extinguished about one hour later, but firefighters allowed smaller patches to burn toward the levee in a controlled burn for several hours to clear vegetation, residents said.
CalFire-Marysville Capt. Dale Skinner said about two acres burned.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
"It was likely caused by people; there's not many other possible ignition sources out there," Skinner said. "But, whether it was intentional or accidental, I have no idea."
About 30 people live in various camps between the levee and Simpson Lane in Linda, authorities said.
CONTACT Rob Parsons at rparsons@appealdemocrat.com or 749-4785. Find him on Facebook at /ADcrimebeat or on Twitter at @ADcrimebeat.
