By Harvey Ranola
Contra Costa Times
UNION CITY, Calif. — Police and fire department officials evacuated the neighborhood near San Luces Way Sunday after a two-alarm house fire set off rounds of ammunition.
Union City Fire Department Battalion Chief Terence Carey said firefighters arrived at the scene at approximately 9:45 a.m. after receiving a call from one of the neighbors about a structure fire.
Firefighters entered the house to put out the fire, but Carey said a steady stream of “rapid " and “continuous” gunfire forced firefighters to evacuate the house and wait for the gunfire to stop.
Carey said they took a head count to make sure none of the firefighters were hurt before re-entering the house and getting the fire under control within 30 minutes.
Police officials said they found between 2,000 and 3,000 rounds of ammunition at the house where the fire started.
The homeowner legally possessed the ammo, according to police, but officers also recovered weapons and are checking to see whether or not the homeowner legally possessed them.
Carey said the structural damage is currently estimated at $250,000, and the content damage is estimated at $100,000.
No one was hurt during the incident.
Copyright 2010 Contra Costa Newspapers