CAL FIRE is assisting the city of Hollister with a vegetation fire reported in the San Benito Riverbed. The fire was reported just before 1 p.m. on Friday and is being referred to as the Cowden Fire.

Cowden Fire initially started today at 12:24 p.m. in San Benito County, California. It has burned 18.5 acres after being ...

A new wildfire was reported today at 12:24 p.m. in San Benito County, California. Cowden Fire has been burning on private ...

Cowden Fire initially started today at 12:24 p.m. in San Benito County, California. It has burned 18.5 acres after being active for four hours, an increase of two acres since the last update.

Fire type: Wildfire. Fire name: Cowden. A new wildfire was reported today at 12:24 p.m. in San Benito County, California. Cowden Fire has been burning on private land.

Attorney Joe Lovell said improperly constructed power lines owned by an oil and gas operator caused the North Fire, which became part of that 2006 complex that burned part of Cowden’s property.

Cowden took on a second unofficial job: looking for possible fire hazards on his family land, including checking on the electric lines that power oil and gas equipment.