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Hollister firefighters contained a grass fire that burned 1.5 acres on the north end of Hill Street at Vista Park Hill on Aug. 22.
Battalion Chief Rodney Dover said the cause of the fire is under investigation, which firefighters believe started at a homeless encampment. He said no structures were threatened and no firefighters were hurt.
Dover said firefighters were dispatched to the area of Third Street for a report of an explosion at 4:09 p.m. and a few minutes later it was reported as a grass fire.
A Hollister firefighter blasts water to extinguish a grass fire near Vista Park Hill. Photo by Adam Bell. 
Grass fire near Vista Park Hill. Photo by Adam Bell. 
Grass fire along 3rd Street near Vista Park Hill. Photo by Adam Bell. 
Grass fire broke out near Vista Park Hill on Aug. 22, 2026. Photo by Adam Bell.
He said the fire’s forward progress was stopped at 4:33 p.m. and that firefighters were expecting to have it under control within five minutes at the time he spoke with BenitoLink, which was at 4:45 p.m.
Dover said when firefighters arrived at the scene, the fire was burning away from the homeless encampment. He added investigators were hoping to get access to the cameras behind the San Benito County Superior Court to determine the cause of the fire.
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