$2.5M Bird's Landing July 4 Fire Under Investigation; Cause Undetermined Despite Fireworks Rumor

The California Office of Emergency Services will investigate the fire that destroyed eight homes and damaged four others in Collinsville on the Fourth of July, Montezuma Fire Protection District Chief Joe Rosewall said Thursday.

Rosewall said there are rumors fireworks started the fire in vegetation in the 1000 block of Collinsville Road around 1:30 p.m., but the cause is officially undetermined.

[Previous: Loss Update on July 4th Fire in Bird's Landing Neighborhood in Solano County.]

"We can't find exact, solid information on that. There are no witnesses to anyone playing with fireworks," Rosewall said.

The fire spread to the first home a couple hundred feet away and was not contained until 9:30 p.m., Rosewall said.

There were 16 homes in the area, and the fire in the Bird's Landing area of Solano County left 25 people homeless, Rosewall said.

"Some people are moving mobile trailers in on their property and the Red Cross, Salvation Army and Solano County building inspectors are stepping in to provide assistance," Rosewall said.

Damage to homes, boats, trailers and other property is estimated at $2.5 million, Rosewall said.

Fifty personnel from 10 fire agencies responded to the fire that destroyed half of the small town.

Most of the homes were built on stilts because they were located in a flood area, Rosewall said.

--Bay City News