Two grass fires slow traffic on Highway 99

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Smoke from two small grass fires forced the evacuation of a middle school and the Fresno County Courthouse Tuesday morning.

One fire started shortly before 9:00 a.m. on Highway 99 at the 180 interchange. The other fire was sparked on Highway 99 at Belmont.

Firefighters quickly put out the flames, but all the smoke set off smoke alarms and forced temporary evacuations at nearby Gaston Middle School and at the courthouse downtown.

It's not yet known how the fires started.