Crews halt fast-moving wildfire near Livermore, Tracy

LIVERMORE — Crews had mostly contained a 260-acre wildfire that spread fast Thursday near Livermore, Tracy and the junction of Interstate 580 and Interstate 205, signaling the arrival of wildfire season in the Bay Area.

As of 7:30 p.m., the Midway Fire was 75% contained, said Chelsea Burkett, a spokesperson for Cal Fire’s Santa Clara unit. The blaze didn’t damage any structures.

“We’re in our mop-up phase right now,” she said.

Ground crews were cooling any hot spots in the burn area and would remain through the night to monitor the scene, Burkett said.

The fire sparked at about 3 p.m. Thursday near the intersection of Patterson Pass Road and Midway Road, according to the agency.

Air and ground resources quickly battled the brush fire, which had jumped I-580 and snarled traffic in the region. Firefighters held the fire’s progress at a local aqueduct.

Burkett said the fire had spread quickly in fields of dry grass, fed by winds.

“The wildland season has begun,” the Alameda County Fire Department’s union posted on social media.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.