you can see montecito drive. there are evacuations on hidden crest court, laurel tree drive, crystal ranch drive. those are all in the same subdivision area just the top of ygnacio valley as it starts to peak up and go down into the clayton area. crews are doing structure protection near those homes, a lot going on on the ground right now. >> let's go to the phone again and robert marshall is the fire marshal in contra costa county and he is on the fire lines as we speak. can you give us the latest update on this fire? thank you for joining us. >> yeah, absolutely. we are currently at four alarms. we have several strike teams that are en route which are additional engines to try and help us get this fire under control. we have a lot of air resources on the fire, several helicopters as well as air tankers. cal fire is on the scene assisting us as it is right against state lands as well. as i mentioned, we're at four alarms. the last estimate that i have is that the fire is about 150 acres. we do have two subdivisi

(pam) kron4's ella sogomonian is live along montecito drive.. evacuees there are grateful tonight... the fire did not reach their homes... though for many it did come close .. ella? live really close...just a few feet away from a few backyards you can see the charred wildland out here on montecito drive. vo between 200 and 300 homes here and over at crystal ranch drive were evacuated by police within thirty minutes of the fire eruption. they watched in awe as aircraft dropped fire retardant near their homes some gettin onto at least one roof and driveway. some residents chose to stay others followed orders and fled with the clothes on their back and whatever they could grab including their pets. sot: fei wang, evacuee// " (cont vo)there is an evacuation center open at 5298 clayton road where they have water and snacks provided. fortunately the fire has stopped forward progress so it's looking much better out here tonight with the help of a large number of fire agencies that responded to the ygnacio fire.we will keep you updated as the fire fight

. >> are those neighborhoods montecito and crystal ranch still very much evacuated right now? >> my understanding is they are still evacuated. >> steve, as you approach sundown, what are the goals here? what's going to happen? >> continuing to attack the fire now. proven to be a somewht stubborn fire and also working on quite a few hot spots across the entire area of the fire. so that is what is going on and that will continue until the fire is controllable and we're able to -- >> steve. thanks. thanks for coming on. looking again at helicopter dumping water on the flames. a couple of air that have been dropping fire retardant ahead of the flames. the red on the ground is fire reta retardant. >> there is a lake nearby. and they are becoming more optimistic right now with the 50% containment they have achieved within the last half hour. we wanted to show you video from earlier as well. the firefight is taking place both on the ground and in the air. this plane dumping retardant as a preventable measure. >> one of two that have been in the area dumping water. you saw that happen

so all of montecito has been evacuated. i don't have a number on that.d with the fire. it's about 100 acres at this point. and as to -- as to wetting down grass, if they haven't been evacuated we certainly don't have any objection o to that. what we'd prefer though is that home owners abate the weeds before we get there and we have a spacing situation like this and it's too late to save the homes. fortunately is looks like all the ones in the immediate vicinity are safe. >> well, steve you say you don't have ray objection to people watering down the grass if they haven't been ordered to evacuate. if they have been ordered to evacuate you want them out immediately. kwh what are the conditions like? it loolkts the wind isn't too bad because of the direction of the smoke. but what are the conditions on the fire lines? >> well the fire just passed by my location at the - s corner of south montecito drive. and it was pretty smoky. i saw people were evacuated from here about 20, 25 minutes ago. those conditions now exist a little further east. from where i'm s

that's the montecito area... we have team coverage tonight on this fire...) meteorologist mabrisa rodriguez is in the weather center with the fire danger-- expected this weekend. plus... kron4's ella sogomonian is live in concord where two neighborhoods have been evacuated....(pam) but first, we start with kron4's justine waldman.. she is live in concord with the latest containment efforts on the fire... justine?

evacuations were under way in the montecito and crystal ranch neighbors.hief meteorologist bill martin has more. >> the retardant is on the south side of the fire. they dropped a swath of -- a stripe there of retardant so it wouldn't go past there. there are housing developments past that. you see a spot fire here. lots of trees and dry brush lots to burn. you can see ignacio valley right there. it might have started with a spark or catalytic converter. fire danger high. tonight a red flag warning for parts of the bay area. temperatures warmer tomorrow. the fog not a thing tomorrow and tomorrow night. but by sunday it comes back. but by that 24-hour period of no fog and stronger offshore flow, right now that's still northerly. that's not quite offshore but it is. it's basically offshore. it's just basically kind of going to start to clock a little more like this as we get into the evening hours. and as it really starts to pull more northeast, that's when temperatures and the winds get going and get some funneling in the canyons. the current temperatures --

the montecito area...are back open.esidents in the montecito and crystal ranch subdivisions can go back home. right now the fire is 85- percent contained368 acres have burned.fire officials tell us a sparking vehicle on ygancio valley road sparked the fire. fire crews do tell they remain on scene through the night to keep an eye on hot spots. <"this attack shocked the conscience of our nation and filled our hearts with grief. journalists like all americans should be free from the fear of being violently attacked while doing their job."> president trump paid tribute to the victims of the deadly shooting at maryland's capital gazette newspaper today.(ken) a lone gunman burst into the paper's offices thursday, killing five employees. (pam) authorities say, the suspect unsuccessfully sued the newspaper for defamation a few years earlier. (ken) karin caifa (ken)earlier. chief timothy altomare/anne (pam)(pam) tonight we are learning more about the victims of the deadly shooting. .. the paper's assistant managing editor, fifty

we now know what caused a major brush fire in concord's montecito area. officials tell us it all started because of sparks from a car on ygancio valley road. the fire quickly spread... burning over 260 acres... and lasted almost 7-hours yesterday. all roads in the area were blocked for a time. and an evaucation order was placed for people in the montecito and crystal ranch neighborhoods . this morning the fire is 85 percent contained. kron 4's sara stinson is live in concord... with the lastest on the fire fight, evacuations and cleanup. sara? thanks sara. we will check back with you through out the morning. ( marty )firefighters in lake county say they have the upper hand on the wildfire near clear lake. but there's still concern - as the fire danger is expected to escalate with this weekend's hot weather. at last check... the "pawnee" fire has burned 13-thousand 700 acres... and is 65-percent contained. this morning... people who live in the double eagle area are being allowed to return to their homes. ( marty ) a lot of people will be headed to bay are

. >> we have currently have evacuations on the crystal ranch road right now and the montecito gardens subdivision. evacuations remain in place until the threat of fire is complete. right now we are sitting at about -- our last report was about 150 acres. no containment at this point in time. >> can you tell -- sorry. gadi. >> we are currently working with calfire. calfire has aircraft on-site for us as well as contra costa sheriffs department with the helicopter. doing water drops. we are gaining ground on it. but we don't have containment at this time. >> can you talk a little about your fire fighting strategy, containment strategy, keeping the flames away from homes? what will people see in the next few hours do you expect? >> they'll see a lot of fire engines around the houses that have been evacuated. there is a lot of fire engines here, making sure that the -- the fire doesn't spread to you know other parts of the road -- the country here. a lot -- a lot of personnel on scene making sure the fire doesn't get into the homes. >> and, ryan, let's talk a little bit more if you don't

fire officials have ordered people to, quote, leave now the area of montecito drive and crystal ranch drive. the fire has now burned at least 175 acres and it started around 3:45 this afternoon along ignacio valley road and oak grove. it appeared to start right on the roadside and this is video within the hour from skyfox. you can see this area is hilly open grassland. but crews have managed to keep the flames away from homes. here's a map of where the fire is burning now. ignacio valley road is major thoroughfare from walnut creek to concord. again, contra costa fire is advising residents to leave the montecito and crystal ranch subdivisions there. officials say take only essential items and lock your windows and doors as you leave. >>> another fire burning on bethel island is now under control. it started around 3:20 this afternoon in the 6600 block of piper road. about a quarter acre burned along with three vehicles. crews say they were mopping up by 4:45 this afternoon. the cause of the fire is still under investigation. >>> crews tackled another fire in morgan hill this afternoon

>> i don't believe they cut power to the subdivision which is the montecito subdivision. we see some lights on. we did see a truck traveling through the area, but it doesn't look like they cut the pothe homes.>> thank you so much. >>> another grass fire is burning in the central valley tonight. it has prompted evacuations in two communities east of stockton. the waverly fire started around 4 pm and is burning near the small towns of milton and salt springs valley. it is about 3500 acres have burned. ground crews and an air tanker are working to contain the flames right now.>>> fire crews were also busy attacking a fire, starting around 4:30 pm this afternoon at oak glen avenue and willow springs s road. the fire was threatening homes for a time but was quickly contained. we go now to bill martin at the hot and dry weather. >> dangerous conditions when you consider the fire season. it's the start of fire season for us we've got a red flag warning going into effect in the next hour. that will be mainly for the hills of the north bay above thousand feet wind will get puffing

people who live in concord's montecito neighborhood watched flames sweep toward their homes. >> to the top of the sky. it couldn't have been any bigger. >> police evacuated hundreds of people from montecito and the crystal ranch community. >> can you do? you feel helpful. but when you see all of these fire crews, you're like, wow, we have heros around us. >> firefighters battled the four alarm fire on the ground. >> thanks to a quick and overwhelming response, we were able to protect all of those structures. >> oh, my god. the flares were all the all the way to my back fence. they did a great job and they saved my home and i'm so thankful. >> the elmores backed to evacuate. >> this is what those people went through. i'm going to get i just thought, my god, this is what's happening to us. and you think of what to grab. >> fortunately, the hoa cleared brush ahead of the fire season. >> if those homeowners had not abated their weeds, this could have turned out much different for them. >> a white diesel pickup truck was back firing and sparking along the road. it may have caused the fire,

the whole backyard was smoked. >> police evacuated hundreds of people from montecito and the crystal ranch community. >> what can you do? you feel helpless. but when you see all these fire crews, everybody around is like, wow. we have heros around us. >> helicopters and air tankers fought from the sky as firefighters battled the four alarm fire on the ground. >> thanks to a quick and overwhelming response, we were able to protect all of those structures. >> oh, my god. the flares were all the way to my back fence and thank god for them. they did a great job and saved my home. i'm so thankful. >> the elmores fought to pack to evacuate. carol ann thought about the north bay fire victims. >> this is what those people went through. i'm going to get emotional. i just thought, my god, this is what they went through and this is what's happening to us. and you think, what to grab? >> fortunately, the hoa had recently cleared brush ahead of fire season. >> if those homeowners had not abated their weeds, the situation could have turned out much differently for them. >> two firefighters sustain

evacuations in concord's montecito and crystal ranch neighborhoods. amber's life from the scene with an update on the residents who were forced out of their homes.>> reporter: andre, the mandatory evacuation order was lifted a few minutes after 10 pm, people coming home we'll see what the hillside looks like. you can see the blackened brush and the red fire retardant that was dropped near a metal fence. that is just steps from their backyard. >> huge plumes of smoke billowed into the sky above concord, when the fire broke out around 3:45 pm. witnesses reported that a car backfired along ygnacio valley road . it sparked at least three small fires. flames burned up hillsides, towards the homes.>> the bush exploded like that, the fire helicopters dropped the water and is gone. >> reporter: the response was aggressive, fire officials >> it is scary. it is so close. it's right at the fence. >> reporter: this mother of four and her children were at a water park nearby when the fire broke out. >> we look over and there are huge flames. we said wait a minute

you can see how intense it was jumping montecito drive and then came the all out assault. cal fire called in at least four fixed wing air tankers to fight the flames. let's go back to chopper 5 live now and you can see the difference, pretty much out. there's some hotspots and they won't leave for a while, but a lot less smoke. you can see that fire retardant kind of diagonally on your screen, that red stripe. that's how they stopped the fire from moving south and it's a good reminder for folk. there is a high fire danger that will exist all weekend long and this is already shaping up to be a very busy summer. >> ken, thanks. >>> let's get to meteorologist paul deanno now, the latest on the wind and heat out there? >> i'm loathe to say the wind helped, but if this would have happened 24 hours later, this would have happened tomorrow when we will be under that red flag warning, the wind could have been going 20 to 25 miles per hour in this same location which doesn't sound that much more than 10 to 15 miles per hour. that's a big deal, that the wind today was only between 5

. >> reporter: this crossfire began just before 4 pm burning along montecito road threatening homes and spreading toward crystal ranch drive. >> there was a wall of smoke. >> reporter: an estimated 200 to 300 people were told they had to evacuate. >> they looked fearful. a lot of them were crying. >> reporter: the pickup truck fire investigators believe started the fire may never be found. >> he was having some trouble. >> we were able to stay. we never left even though the fire is right in our backyard. >> reporter: firefighters stopped the flames before it got to any homes. in the five minutes, carolyn was forced to grab what was most important and her home was released concern. >> when you lose a child, it puts everything into perspective. >> reporter: homeowners had recently cut the brush around their homes and that is what helped save their homes. firefighters plan to be here all night until the fire is fully contained. maria medina, kpix 5. >>> trent and wilson walker was on the front lines of that fire earlier today and shows us how close the flames got to those homes. >> reporte

hundreds of people living in the montecito subdivision and crystal ranch road in concord were told to evacuate. >> i start running to my grandma. i get here. we get in the car. as soon as we walk outside, though, it was just like something from a movie. >> look how big the flames are. look at the flames right there. ar. >> reporter: alex took this cell phone video just before he was ordered to leave. >> i was concerned about my house. everybody left. i stuck around. >> reporter: tomorrow's temperatures are expected to reach close to 100 degrees. firefighters are also concerned about the fourth of july weekend. >> we don't want people using fireworks at all. if they use fireworks and they start a fire, that is a crime, and we would come after people for that. >> reporter: it's going to be a very hot weekend. in fact, six engines are still in the hills tonight. they'll be here all night long. reporting live in concord, i'm cheryl hurd, nbc bay area news. >> thank you very much, cheryl. you're right. the big question now, is this just the first wildfire of what could be an exhausting wee

state of maryland and several more are injured one suspect has been arrested are to america sara montecito has details. i'm here in an atlas the capital of maryland just an hour away from washington d.c. as you can see an ongoing investigation an active shooter broke into the capitol because that local newspaper a subsidiary of the baltimore sun. fire there have been at least five confirmed dead multiple injuries many of the injured have been taken to the hospital so there were employees tweeting while they were under their desks as a shooter went through the glass and shot at least four people killed five people and that phil davis reporter here at the capitol because that tweeted this out there is nothing more terrifying than hearing multiple people get shot while you're under your desk and then hear the gunman reload again such a tragic incident an active shooter here and a novelist a maryland there's been a tremendous tragedy here and law enforcement has come out to say how great alternative is have come together and responded in less than sixty seconds the swat and first responders di

this also led to mud slides montecito. >>> three injured puppies are on the road to recovery and their story is more about how they were hurt. >> who hurt them and there is an effort in the east bay to find the answer. >> sizzling summer like heat is coming our way. i will show you the hottest spots in just a minute. >>> i am michael finney "7 on your side," top five summer concerts in the bay area and what it is going to cost you. >>> final weekend before the election and at abc7news.com/election you will find a local voting guide, meet fiwe all know guys like gavin.t boasting. overselling his achievements. making false claims. as lieutenant governor, he skipped many of his duties, saying the job was "so dull," he only shows up to work at the state capitol "like one day a week, tops." the same gavin who, as mayor, "split town" during a massive oil spill and "jetted off...to hawaii." gavin's... not gonna work... as governor. not gonna work... only marshall tuck will change that. year after year, policians fail to improve public schools. tuck turned around failing schools, raising gradu

it then spread to the areas of montecito roads and crystal ridge drive threatening homes. between 2 and 300 people were told to evacuate but were allowed back around 10:30 last night. carol ann says firefighters gave her and her husband just five minutes to grab what they could and get out. the momentos included photos of the the couple's only child who died at the age of two. >> that was my main priority to get his videos, his tapes. reporter: the fire is now 85% contained. there are no reports of significant damage to homes or dis although two firefighters suffered minor burns. investigators believe the fire was started by a pick up that was spewing sparks out of an exhaust pipe. >> firefighters are making progress on the pawny fire. twenty-two buildings have burned. crews say the fire is no longer threatening any other buildings. >>>a major development in the ghostship warehouse fire. 36 people died there in 2016. now, the two men charged in their deaths are about to strike a plea deal with prosecutors. >> a source close to the case tells me ghostship defendants plan to

residents of montecito heights are ready. >> a few years ago we had a fire come out to the backyard. >> after the fires they were that mike was more trimming to being done. >> reporter: the warning is in place for the northbay mountains and east bay hills. >> because of the extreme temperatures we are staffing up for outages. 4 they show the investment >> reporter: fish of the extra equipment on hand at the art in santa rosa. staff will monitor conditions from the wild fire safety operation center and sentences go. pg&e announced they may proactively shut off power in extreme conditions to customers in high fire danger areas. >> even other is a red flag warning you do not anticipate shutting off power. >> we are monitoring conditions 24/7. when we can, we will give customers 48 hours notice and 24 hours notice. >> reporter: she said customer should prepare for regular outages due to many homes running air-conditioning and fans. there are a few things you can do. if you are a pg&e customer and live in a high fire area, they want you to go online and update your account profile and con

. >> police evacuated hundreds of people from montecito and the crystal ranch community. >> what can you do? you feel helpless. but when you see all these fire crews, everybody around is like, wow. we have heros around us. >> helicopters and air tankers fought from the sky as firefighters battled the four alarm fire on the ground. >> thanks to a quick and overwhelming response, we were able to protect all of those structures. >> oh, my god. the flares were all the way to my back fence and thank god for them. they did a great job and saved my home. i'm so thankful. >> the elmores fought to evacuate. >> this is what those people went through. i'm going to get emotional. i just thought, my god, this is what they went through and this is what's happening to us. and you think, what to grab? >> fortunately, the hoa had recently cleared brush ahead of fire season. >> if those homeowners had not abated their weeds, the situation would have turned out much differently from this. >> wpss tell investigators that a white diesel pickup truck was back firing and sparking along ignacio valley road.

residents of montecito heights and santa rosa are ready. >> there is a fire hazard. a few years ago we had a fire come up to the backyard. >> after the fires there is a lot more training being done. >> reporter: the national weather service said critical conditions on saturday and sunday. any new fires will spread weekly with high winds and low humidity. the warning is in place for the north bay mountains and east bay hills. >> because of the extreme temperatures we are staffing up for outages. >> reporter: the pg&e spokeswoman showed us the extra equipment on hand. more crews will work the weekend and staff will monitor conditions from their wild fire safety operation center in tampa cisco. pg&e announced recently that they may proactively shut off power in extreme conditions for customers in high fire danger areas as a last resort. >> even though there is a red flag warning, we do not anticipate signing off power. we are monitoring conditions 24/7. that could change. when we can, we will give customers 48 hours notice and then 24 hours notice. >> reporter: customer

there are evacuation orders in place right now in the montecito area. the fire has burned at least 100 acres. joining us on the phone now is robert marshall with the contra costa county fire protection district. (anchor) let's go live (anchor) (anchor) let's check in with meteoroligist mabrisa rodriguez now with a look at the weather in the area where the fire is burning. a robust warming trend will continue into saturday as high pressure builds over the bay area and offshore flow develops inland. expect daytime highs in the 60s-70s along the coast with 80s-90s inland. high fire danger begins tonight along north bay mountains through saturday night. cooling will then take place sunday and into early next week with temperatures falling to below seasonal averages for the independence day holiday. another warming trend is then expected late next week. (anchor) let's go live (anchor) let's go live (anchor) let's go live to the scene right now... kron 4's justine waldman is there.. justine what can you tell us? (ken) thanks mabrisa. let's continue our let's