Update: Pass Fire in Alameda County at 30% containment

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Updated: 6:04 p.m. May 17

First discovered: 6 hours ago, 12:03 p.m. May 17

Initial location: Near Altamont Pass Road, Altamont, Alameda County, Calif.

Fire unit: Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit

Fire type: Wildfire

Fire name: Pass Fire

Pass Fire initially started today at 12:03 p.m. on Near Altamont Pass Road, Altamont in Alameda County, California.

After being active for six hours, it has burned 69 acres. By Sunday evening, the fire crew managed to contain 30% of the fire. The cause of it remains under investigation.

See live video from the area:

Https://cameras.alertcalifornia.org/?id=Axis-HighlandPeak2

Fire containment

What does it mean for a fire to be 30% contained?

The percentage indicates how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded by a control line. In this case, it means that 30% of the wildfire is contained from spreading, while 70% is still uncontrolled.

Containment is part of a larger plan for managing a wildfire. It is normally expressed as a percentage and it refers to how much of the fire perimeter has been surrounded/enclosed by a control line that firefighters create. The containment percentage indicates a certain level of control, but it doesn't always correlate to safety level. Also, it's important to note that containment doesn't mean a fire is out.

How is containment measured?

The incident's central command constantly receives progress reports from firefighters on the ground. As the fireline is constructed, inspected or reinforced, mappers record those details to adjust the containment percentage. The percentage tells the public how much of the fire perimeter is believed to not go beyond the control lines.

Source: Cal Fire

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This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 12:27 PM.