A four-acre fire broke out Tuesday morning along the American River Parkway near downtown Sacramento. It burned along Highway 160 near the Costco sending a plume of smoke that was seen from the downtown area.
No structures were threatened and the cause of the fire is being investigated.
Video at KCRA.com >>>
Metro Fire crews quickly put out a small grass fire that was burning Wednesday near the American River in Fair Oaks.
Firefighters were called out about 10:45 a.m. to the north side of the American River, near mile-marker 26.
Fire officials said it initially appeared the fire was started by some sort of device.
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State park workers recovered the body Tuesday morning of a 23-year-old man who drowned last week at Lake Natoma after jumping into the water with friends, officials said.
The man was identified as Paul Liu of Sacramento, according to the Sacramento County Coroner’s Office.
The workers recovered the body at 9 a.m. between the launch ramp and swim beach at Negro Bar, said Richard Preston, superintendent for the Folsom Lake State Recreation Area.
On Thursday, California State Parks workers received a report at about 4 p.m. that four people had jumped from rocks intending to swim to a partially submerged rock in the middle of the lake, between Rainbow Bridge and Lake Natoma Crossing, Preston said. Liu went underwater, and his friends unsuccessfully tried to rescue him.
Two of Liu’s friends were rescued by kayakers, and one made it to shore on his own.
Hours after park workers recovered Liu’s body, rescue crews pulled another body out of the American River downstream near Sutter’s Landing in midtown Sacramento.
That man appeared to be in his 20s or 30s, said Sacramento Fire Department spokesman Chris Harvey. He said identifying the man will be difficult because the body had been in the water for several days.
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Sacramento County officials said Monday they are planning changes at Tiscornia Beach after four people died off its shoreline so far in July.
County Supervisor Phil Serna said he’s asked the county parks department to install signs down by the water’s edge as early as next weekend.
“It’s going to be some very blunt language, strong language, that really attempts to impress upon folks that visit our parkways about the risk associated with entering the waterway,” Serna said.
For Joe Thomas, whose uncle drowned in the Sacramento River Sunday, the changes are coming too late.
Thomas came back to the accident site Monday, expecting to find searchers still looking for the 24-year-old drowning victim. Instead, he found people back in the water at the exact same spot.
“I kind of was taking it like it wasn’t really too much of a concern,” Thomas said. “I don’t see any type of sign up saying beware of this area, it’s dangerous, or anything.”
Thomas said his uncle, who is still missing and has not been identified by authorities, came to the beach Sunday for a family gathering.
About 1 p.m., the river pulled him under and he never resurfaced.
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Rescue crews are searching for the body a 24-year-old man who is believed to have drowned near Tiscornia Park in Sacramento, the fourth victim this month in the are.
A witness told KCRA 3 that the man had fallen into the water along the Sacramento and American river confluence as he attempted to put a flotation device on a child.
Family members told the fire officials that he was swimming on the Sacramento side and may have yelled that he was caught on something before being swept underwater.
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A three-alarm grass fire Monday night on the American River Parkway near Cal Expo burned about 11 acres.
The fire that reached the treetops was driven by a strong wind, which spread embers that ignited small spot fires.
Crews mopped up on Tuesday and were to cut down some charred trees. No structures were damaged, and there were no injuries
There were desperate attempts to save a woman in trouble on the water in Sacramento County, but Sunnyvale’s Sonia Rangel, couldn’t be saved from her day in the sun, celebrating her newly-obtained American citizenship near Discovery Park.
The 36-year-old mother, grandmother and bodybuilder recently died during a boating incident in the midst of the often drunken and often disorderly ‘Rage on the River.’
Eleven days later, other fans of what the county’s rivers have to offer are enjoying a very different kind of day afloat.
“Especially after a high stress day it’s pretty relaxing. It’s nice,” said Jan Atkinson of Folsom.
“It’s great to just come out and just forget it all and just relax on the water,” said Elk Grove’s Lisa Andrus.
Directors of Sacramento county’s regional parks are looking to inject the kind of calms river days Andrus enjoys, into big river event days like the Rafting Gone Wild floating fiesta planned for thousands to enjoy July 11.
That’s why they’ve issued an alcohol ban on American River Parkway from Hazel to Watt Avenue, trying to avoid the 12 arrests, boozy brawls and destruction of property that marred the event in 2012.
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Eppie’s Great Race is scheduled for Saturday, July 18, 2015 along the American River Parkway.
The annual event starts at the William B. Pond Recreation Area with runners racing downstream (West) to the Guy West Bridge.
At Guy West Bridge, runners will transition to bikes and head upstream (East) to the Sunrise Avenue footbridge where they will switch to water crafts and paddle downstream (West) to River Bend Park.
The American River Parkway Multi-Use Trail will be closed from Guy West Bridge upstream to Sunrise Avenue footbridge from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
There will be aid stations set up at approximately every 1 mile to provide support to the runners, cyclists and paddlers with food, fluids, and if needed, medical attention.
In response to concerns from Sacramento water agencies, the Bureau of Reclamation is easing back drainage rates on Folsom Lake.
The State Water Resources Control Board is set to approve the updated plans, which aim to ease concerns from residents of Folsom, Roseville and other cities that depend on Folsom Lake for their water supply.
“Mindful of that critical water supply need we are intending to put in the specific end of September of quantity of 120,000 acre-feet of water,” said Deputy Director Les Grober.
Grober says fears about the water level came up when regulators tried to strike a balance between protecting fish and minimizing harm to agriculture.
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For safety, the Regional Parks Director has issued an alcohol restriction on the American River from Hazel to Watt Avenues in preparation for a non-permitted event – Rafting Gone Wild – July 11, 2015.
In 2012, the Rafting Gone Wild event resulted in multiple arrests, destruction of public and private property, and presented a significant threat to the safety of the public and our community. Based on information obtained from multiple sources, the Department of Regional Parks anticipates similar unsafe circumstances during this year’s event.
As a result of the potential risks to the community including park visitors, rescue personnel and law enforcement, the Director of Regional Parks has issued an alcohol restriction for July 11, 2015.
County Park Rangers, Rancho Cordova Police Department and the Sacramento County Sheriff Department will be stationed at all park locations along the American River Parkway to enforce the alcohol restriction. Violations of the alcohol restriction will be strictly enforced.