Fueled by high winds, several small fires along the railroad tracks near the Antioch Marina destroyed nearly 12 acres of Dow Chemical Wetlands Tuesday afternoon.

"The winds were tough," said Richard Carpenter, fire marshal for Contra Costa County. "They pushed it all over the place. It's difficult in that kind of situation, but the response from all the agencies was extremely helpful."

Department of Forestry and East Bay Regional Parks District helicopters carried water to the scene, along with 10 fire trucks from the Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

The cause of the blaze is unknown at this time, and no injuries were reported.

The Dow Wetlands Preserve contains 472 acres of wetlands, grasslands, and uplands, including a beaver pond and tidal marsh area. It's home to more than 130 species of birds, river otters, beavers, and serves as a resting spot along the Pacific Flyway migratory route.