Grass Fire near Cal Expo Causes Business 80 Closure and Raises Concerns over Homeless Camps

A three-acre grass fire broke out near Cal Expo in Sacramento on Sunday afternoon, prompting the closure of Business 80. The dense vegetation in the area posed a challenge for firefighters as they tried to reach the blaze with hoses and engines. The fire burned right up to the freeway, creating black smoke visible from surrounding areas.

The smoke was not only from the vegetation but also from burning homeless camps in the area. Investigators are looking into the incident, as there are people of interest within the homeless encampment. They will speak with witnesses to determine if the fire was started accidentally or intentionally. Helicopters made water drops on the fire due to limited access and the absence of fire hydrants nearby.

Traffic on Business 80 came to a halt around 4:45 p.m., causing delays for southbound and northbound travelers. About 30 minutes later, traffic began moving in both directions, and no injuries have been reported as a result of the fire. Brandon Downs, a digital content producer at CBS Sacramento, provided an update on this developing story.