Another blaze torches brush area behind Costco; cause undetermined

Two weeks after putting out a trio of “suspicious” fires in the field areas near Costco, fire crews were back to battle a larger blaze in the same vicinity this week — this time with the help of a helicopter.

Metro Fire Captain Michelle Eidam said crews were dispatched at 2:27 p.m. to the 7000 block of Auburn Boulevard on June 2 after receiving a report of smoke “in the shrub area in back of Costco.” She said several fire engines and a battalion chief responded to the scene and were able to contain the fire to three-quarters of an acre by 2:55 p.m.

Although fire officials labeled the recent May 18 fires near the same area as “suspicious,” Eidam said the latest fire was not viewed as suspicious and an arson investigator was not called out. She said the cause of the fire was “undetermined.”

As previously reported on The Sentinel, an arson investigator was called on to look into the cause of the May 18 fires, which all began around 6 p.m. in grassland areas around Costco and Walmart. A Metro Fire PIO said the cause of those fires, which all involved homeless camps and “paraphernalia,” was also unable to be determined after an investigation.

[Previous story: Metro Fire says 3 separate fires near Costco ‘not accidental’]

The area behind Costco is a 47-acre area called the Stock Ranch Nature Preserve. It features over a mile of walking paths and “will never be developed,” according to a statement by City Manager Henry Tingle at a neighborhood meeting last year.

Fire crews were also called to the Stock Ranch area for reports of another possible fire last week, but Eidam said she was not aware of any fire being found.

According to Citrus Heights Police Department statistics, there were six arson fires in the city last year and 14 in 2013. Asked whether there may have been a connection between the recent fires near Costco, Police Lt. Jason Russo said “currently we have not linked the fires together,” but he said “as the weather heats up and the dry grass is present it’s bound to happen.” The lieutenant said there are no known suspects in connection with any of the fires.

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