Fire in the Hills Burns 36 Acres

Updated: 5:05 p.m.

The fire could be seen as far away as Cisco, yet by the time the 9 to 5 work day was over, crews would be wrapping up.

In 90-degree afternoon heat, they were doing "mop-up" work, a last stage after fires are put out where crews clear the edges of a burned area from brush so no embers can travel and spark a new fire. (see photo 3)

A grass fire that burned nearly 36 acres was contained as of 2:40 p.m., according to CalFire Captain Tim Fox.

Milpitas Post reported the fire around 1:06 p.m.

An air tanker dropped retardant onto the fire, and two helicopters,  and the East Bay Regional Park District's Eagle 6, dropped water siphoned from a nearby pond, said Fox.

CalFire, , Milpitas Fire Department and Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department were on scene.

No injuries or structure fires were reported.

"The [grape] vines were threatened, but no structures were at risk, thanks to the quick response by the Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department and the California Department of Forestry [CalFire] who had two helicopters and one plane involved with the effort," wrote Mark Capalongan, owner of Big Dog Vineyards, in an email. Some of the pasture land on the property burned.

The majority of the land, a watershed for the Hetch Hetchy, is owned by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission.

County crews cutting grass are rumored to have started the fire.

The investigation is still pending, said Rob Van Wormer, CalFire Fire Chief Prevention Officer.