Lawn mower sparks fire in Greenfield, property owner held responsible
UPDATE 06/08/18 5:25 PM Fire crews in south Monterey County said a lawn mower sparked a brush fire in Greenfield and now the property owner has to foot the bill.
The fire started near the intersection of Arroyo Road and the 36000 block of Elm Avenue at 11:41 a.m. Thursday.
“Apparently the owner of the property and machinery was cutting dry grass during the heat of the day and a little bit of wind, caused a spark. and subsequently started a wild land fire,” says Cal Fire PIO David Clark.
As fire crews arrived the fire was burning about 3 acres. Ground and air crews kept the fire to just under 10 acres.
Since the fire is considered preventable, the property owner will be held financially responsible for the resources used. “That means recouping the cost for any of the equipment that was started, any time that we were out here for putting the fire out. Aircrafts involved, other agencies, all of that is a billable cost recovery,” says Clark.
Aircraft resources responding included; 1 air attack, 2 air tankers, and 1 helicopter. Ground resources included; 1 Cal Fire Battalion Chief, 5 Cal Fire engines, 2 Cal Fire hand crews, 1 water tender from South Monterey County and 1 engine from Greenfield responded.
Cal Fire says while it’s preventable, Clark says it happens far too often, “Cal Fire responds to about 14 hundred calls a year that are caused by equipment use which means by weed wackers or some other spark emmitting tool.”
Cal Fire has some tips for prevention, “mowers are intended to cut green grass, not dead or dry weeds and grass. Never mow on extremely dry or hot days. If you’re going to mow, plan to mow in the early part of the day when it is cooler. Remember, you may be doing the right thing but at the wrong way.”
They also say to check the weather for the day to make sure it will not be extremely hot or windy.
Cal fire is still calculating how much the property owner will owe.
Firefighters also put out two other fires in the area of Elm Avenue and Elmwood Circle and in the area of Apple and 13th Street.
To learn more about fire prevention go to ReadyForWildfire.org.
