Willow Glen Resident

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Smoke bombs start brush fire near on-ramp to Highway 87

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

The weekend before the Fourth of July started off with the wrong kind of a bang, with a brush fire along the Highway 87 on-ramp that was triggered by a smoke bomb that caused minor damage to a nearby vehicle in the Gardner district.

According to San Jose Police Department Sgt. Rick Foster, three juveniles on June 30 threw smoke bombs into the brush alongside the on-ramp at the corner of W. Williams Street and Willis Avenue. The vandalism ignited the brush and nearby trees.

Foster said to his knowledge this was the first Fourth of July-related incident, a common occurrence every year.

"Kids are blowing up M80s and have their fingers blown off, too," he said. "It never fails and is not worth it."

San Jose Fire Department Station No. 30 responded within minutes and put out the flames. Four extra off-road vehicles that each carry 250 gallons of water were added over the holiday to patrol dry, grassy areas and neighborhoods, according to San Jose Fire Department spokesman Alberto Olmos.

The three boys approached the police when they arrived, upset over the fire, Foster said. One was crying and told Foster that they didn't mean to start a brush fire.

"I commended him for coming up to me and telling the truth," Foster said. "They got lucky. If the fire had caught the right brush, someone's house could have burned."

According to police, the minors were cited for arson and released to their parents.

Over the holidays 10 firefighters were added to the work force as a preventive measure, especially with the dry weather.