Four brush fires spark near Salinas Valley State Prison

Four brush fires sparked near the Salinas Valley State Prison just after 5 p.m. Sunday, according to CAL FIRE.

Fire crews put out the flames, which stretched a half-mile along Highway 101’s center divide, Gonzales firefighters said.

It took crews 15 minutes to put the fire out. Cleanup efforts could take an hour, firefighters said.

The cause of the fires is unknown.

The Gonzales Fire Department is investigating, but CAL FIRE assisted in the firefighting efforts.