Morgan Fire: 51-acre blaze near Mount Diablo contains after overnight halt
On July 17, a wildfire erupted in unincorporated Contra Costa County and has since been tamed to 30 % containment after crews stopped its advance overnight. The blaze, now called the Morgan Fire, spans roughly 51 acres between Morgan Territory State Park and Mount Diablo State Park near the town of Clayton, and has left no structures damaged and only a minor injury to a firefighter.
Firefighters first received the call at 3:15 p.m. Friday from a resident near the intersection of Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek roads. Early satellite estimates pegged the fire at about 125 acres, but Cal Fire revised the figure to 51 acres after “better mapping.” By 10 p.m. Friday, crews had halted the fire’s spread, and the Contra Costa Community Warning System issued an “All Clear” at 6:50 a.m. Saturday, lifting evacuation warnings that had been in place the previous day.
Santa Clara unit chief Marcus Hernandez told reporters that the agency is confident the fire will remain within its current perimeter. “We likely won’t reach 100 % containment today, but we’re pretty confident that we’ll keep the fire within the footprint it is now at that 51 acres,” he said. The response effort includes 23 engines and two helicopters, with additional support from Contra Costa and Sonoma county departments, bringing a total of 242 personnel to the scene.
Public safety officials confirmed that no homes or other structures were impacted, and the evacuation warning was lifted before the fire’s containment improved. A local social‑media post cautioned hikers against visiting Mount Diablo this weekend after the fire’s initial spread, but trailheads remain open and Cal Fire has not reported any damage to park facilities.
Cal Fire is investigating the cause of the Morgan Fire. An officer collected data at the site on Saturday, and the investigation is ongoing. Crews are continuing to work through the day to increase containment, with the goal of preventing any further spread. While 100 % containment has not yet been achieved, officials remain optimistic that the fire will stay within its current 51‑acre boundary.
