John Fire: East Bay grass fire destroys Pittsburg Theater Company warehouse before shows

PITTSBURG, Calif. (KGO) — A massive weekend grass fire in Pittsburg that broke out in an adjacent warehouse is under control, but the theater company that stored its props and costumes in the warehouse is devastated.

Dubbed the “John Fire,” the wind-driven blaze consumed 55 acres of grassland adjacent to a warehouse used by the Pittsburg Theater Company Sunday evening. Now, Contra Costa County Fire Protection District investigators are on scene to determine the cause.

Pittsburg Theater Company board member Ava Duran said, “I was terrified because so much of the history is gone now.”

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Theater volunteers spent Sunday morning moving items from storage to the California Theater in downtown Pittsburg for their next series of performances beginning this Friday.

“We were basically getting the sets from the warehouse up here for our production of 'The Sunshine Boys' and we finished about an hour before we heard about the fire,” Duran said.

Victor Daniel, spokesperson for the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, said, “We received a call shortly after 4 p.m. that a structure was on fire. Crews arrived on scene. contributing factor. “

Several planes dropped retardant before the fire's progress was largely stopped overnight.

Now the theater company is evaluating the sequel.

They managed to move some of the sets and costumes, but lost all their wireless microphones, props and furniture. This is devastating for the Pittsburg Theater Company but also for other neighboring theater companies in Clayton, Brentwood, Pinole and Martinez who share the same equipment.

Board member Dianne Schepers said, “The show must go on, which is why we are currently receiving donations from the community to help us with the furniture. We called it “The Phoenix Project” because we believe we will rise from the ashes and we want to keep going. A new house is what we need.

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