Top stories of the week: Barn blaze and wildfire

We take a look at some of the biggest stories of the week. This
week: illegal fireworks lead to a blaze that claimed a barn and six
vehicles and lightning-sparked wildfires rage for several days.
1. Fireworks lead to barn blaze

Illegal fireworks caused Tuesday’s fire on Buena Vista Road that destroyed a barn and several vehicles, according to Cal Fire Investigator Curt Itson.

Itson said three teenage Hispanic males are being sought as possible suspects after they were seen by neighbors running away from the blaze.

“We found several unlit smoke bombs at the scene, and from the description of several witnesses and other evidence, we determined that large firecrackers started the fire,” Itson said.

Read the

a href=”http://www.freelancenews.com/video/246116-buena-vista-road-barn-fire”target=blank”>Also with this story, a video of

b2. Brown Fire claims nearly 4,00 acres/b

The Brown Fire, which burned 3,780 acres near Panoche Road this weekend, is 80 percent contained and expected to be completely put out by today, said firefighter Adam Torgrimson of Cal Fire on Monday.

The blaze was caused when a lighting strike ignited dry vegetation between Hollister and Interstate 5 on Saturday. No buildings or homes had been burned in the fire, and no injuries were reported, Torgrimson said.

“The weather caught everyone off guard,” he said. “We only had about four hours’ notice before the storm came in. Anytime you’ve got dry lightning with little precipitation, it can cause havoc.”

Read the a href=”http://www.freelancenews.com/news/246080-brown-fire-nearly-out”target=blank”>full story.

the fires that ravaged the mountains west of Gilroy.