By Linda Taaffe

Mountain View

Ahomeless encampment preparing dinner more than likely ignited the three-alarm brush fire near Highway 101 that shut down the Moffett Boulevard offramp for approximately two hours last week, Mountain View fire investigators said.

Spokesman Steven Hawkes said investigators discovered abandoned cooking equipment and other signs that there had been a homeless camp at the grassy site adjacent to Highway 101 where the fire was reported at 5:15 p.m., Aug. 4. A charred book, a gas can and other camp remnants remained scattered in the ashes days following the blaze.

Hawkes said investigators have ruled the fire an accident.

Brush, grass and trees ignited a half-acre area covered in thick underbrush at the side of Highway 101, closing the Moffett off ramp shortly after 5:15 p.m., firefighters said.

Moderate winds from the northwest fanned the flames, causing the rapid spread.

By 6:30 p.m., firefighters declared the blaze a three-alarm fire. More than 35 firefighters from five departments responded to the scene.

A PG&E substation with several outbuildings was downwind, directly in the path of the fast moving fire.

Firefighters were able to control the fire within 90 minutes, or by 6:45 p.m., sparing the substation from damage.

Fire crews remained at the site for an additional two hours extinguishing hot spots.

Hawkes said there were no injuries reported as a result of the 3-acre fire.