Spark From Mower Ignites Grass Fire

VACAVILLE, Calif. -- Ninety-degree temperatures, high grass and a spark from a riding lawn mower all combined Saturday afternoon to create a fire that raced up to the back fence of a home off English Hills Road.

By the time the grass fire was contained at about 4 p.m., it had scorched about 14 acres of rural property between English Hills Road and Olivas Lane.

The Vacaville Rural Fire District and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection rushed to both sides of the spreading blaze and had it contained in about 30 minutes.

If it were a little later in the season, it could have been a different story, said Chief Howard Wood of the Vacaville Rural Fire District.

"If the weather conditions were different, we could still be chasing it," Wood said.

The weather being what it was turned out to be fortunate for a large residence on English Hills Road.

The fire started several acres away from the house, but a south wind sent the fire climbing up the hill that the residence overlooks. It is not known whether anyone was in the home at the time, Wood said.

Several homeowners on Olivas Lane watched the blaze run away from their property. Jim Clark had a shovel at the ready in case he needed a rush fire break around his property.

"I'm glad it didn't burn those oaks," he said, pointing to trees on a hill nearby his property. "Red-tailed hawks live up there."