Stunning Angel Island fire seen for miles

A large fire burns on the top of Angel Island on Sunday, October 12, 2008. A large fire burns on the top of Angel Island on Sunday, October 12, 2008. Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Laura Morton, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close Stunning Angel Island fire seen for miles 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

A fast-moving brush fire atop Angel Island shot flames high in to the air and glowed so brightly Sunday night that it could be seen for miles around San Francisco Bay by residents in several counties.

Residents in San Francisco, Marin, Contra Costa and Alameda counties - from the hills in San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and El Cerrito to the shorelines along Richmond, Tiburon, Sausalito and San Francisco described the fire as spectacular and massive.

"We are seeing a silhouette of the island in flames," said Jacqueline McCrath, who was watching the fire from Telegraph Hill in San Francisco. "It's been spreading really fast - we saw a vigorous blaze at the top of the hill at first, and now it has spread across a lot of the island. It appeared very suddenly - the first thing we saw was a blazing hilltop."

The fire, reported about 9 p.m. Sunday, grew quickly and had consumed up to 100 acres on the east side of the island by 11:15 p.m., fire officials said. At 740 acres, Angel Island is the largest island in San Francisco Bay.

"We are dealing with some real heavy vegetation and some very active flames kicking up," said Marin County Fire Battalion Chief Mike Giannini. "It is challenging not only because of the heavy vegetation but in getting crews up there. First they have to be brought in by boat. And once they get over there, they have to get up to the top of the island."

There were about 30 firefighters on the island by about 11:30 p.m. and another 70 were expected to arrive by midnight, he said.

While no structures were immediately threatened, Giannini said, there are a lot of historic buildings on the island, he said.

About 40 campers were evacuated, he said.

"It is a pretty big fire," Giannini said. "It is going to be a long night."

The U.S. Coast Guard was transporting firefighters to the island. One fire engine is stationed on the island, and another was transported there by barge. Another two were on their way late Sunday night.

The engines have water, and there is some water on the island to fight the fire, Giannini said.

He said the cause of the fire was not yet known.

U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Amy Marrs said the wind appeared to be driving the fire.

At the Paradise Bay Restaurant in Sausalito, manager Eliza Grassy described what she saw: "Flames have come over the side of the island. It is quite an amazing sight, seeing the flames consuming the island that quickly."

The island's highest point is Mount Livermore at 781 feet, and it appeared to be involved in the blaze. The fire was facing the city, burning on the east side of the island, near the reservoir.

"It is just massive. You can see the orange flames from the bridge," Mark Crawford, an Orinda resident, said after driving across the Bay Bridge and seeing the fire.

A woman on a Hornblower Cruise right next to the island described the fire as "a shocking sight."

"The fire is on the city side of the island. It is really high up on two ridges. The flames are 25 feet to 30 feet high," said the woman whose cell phone cut off before she could provide her name.

McCrath said the yellow, orange, and red flames were rising high into the sky.

"We've been watching the fire for about half an hour and for the first time we are seeing red lights that look like firefighting equipment," he said at 10:30 p.m.

Angel Island, a state park that was once a fort and later an immigration station, is reachable by ferry from San Francisco and Tiburon, and is a popular picnicking and camping spot.