Talk about a hot streak on the links.
San Jose firefighters had to battle two small fires near the same golf course this week, the most recent late Thursday morning.
The small fire along Coyote Creek was reported about 11:10 a.m. at Tuers Road and Capitol Expressway, right next to Los Lagos Golf Course. Fire crews had the blaze knocked down by noon.
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No injuries were reported.
Fire crews said Thursday’s fire appears to have been ignited by embers from another fire earlier in the week, also adjacent to the golf course, near the intersection of Senter Road and East Capitol Expressway. Fire officials said that blaze burned about five acres and took several hours to extinguish.
Fire officials are looking into the possibility that Monday's fire might have started at a homeless encampment.
"We do have quite a few homeless encampments in the city of San Jose,” San Jose Fire Capt. Reggie Williams said. “We do have fires in those areas. To determine a 'cause' for those fires, sometimes it's very, very difficult."
Firefighters say danger increases when fires start in wooded areas. The fire burns inside the tall trees and huge flaming limbs come down suddenly.
"We actually have a name for those,” San Jose Fire Capt. Soren Coats said. “They are called 'widow-makers' and if they fall down they will kill you … and as you know we have a large homeless population down here."
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Despite the smoke, flames and emergency crews racing about, golfers were never turned away.
The course's back 9 remained opened Monday while the fire burned not far from the fifth hole tee box, a golf course rep told NBC Bay Area via telephone. Thursday, the entire course remained open while fire crews put out the flare-up.
At this point, fire officials say a full out investigation will have to wait. Their top priority is to stay on top of any other fires during this Fourth of July weekend.
