A fire broke out in the canyon on Alder Drive near Hart Drive on Sunday, September 8, 2024, around noon. Thankfully, no one was injured, and no structures were damaged.
With temperatures soaring to 103 degrees in Kensington that day, conditions were ripe for a fire. The response was swift, with four fire trucks and five police cars arriving at the scene. A fire helicopter circled overhead, though it did not make a water drop.
Firefighters quickly tapped into the hydrant at the corner of Argos and Hart Drive, pumping water into the canyon and extinguishing the blaze within hours. A woodpile, along with a patch of grass and shrubs down the canyon slope, were charred, but that seems to be the extent of the damage.
A few neighbors were evacuated as a precaution but were allowed to stay nearby to observe the situation.
Judy Harrington, co-chair of Kensington Fire Safe, spoke with one of the firefighters the following day. They suspect the fire was caused by an overheated electrical wire due to high demand with everyone having their air conditioning on. Same for another fire that started shortly thereafter near N Kensington. There were no indications of homeless encampments in the Alder canyon area.
A representative from Sean Elo-Rivera’s office reached out to Kensington Fire Safe the next day, offering assistance if needed.
We hope this close call inspires Kensington residents to clear flammable brush from their yards and canyon areas during the upcoming Dumpathon. With fires on the rise, reducing potential fuel is essential to keeping our neighborhood safe.