Fire News: Boys playing with fireworks started Cottonwood fire

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Boys playing with fireworks started Cottonwood fire

By Jim Schultz (Contact)
Originally published 12:34 p.m., June 25, 2007
Updated 03:42 p.m., June 25, 2007

Cottonwood grass fire

FIRE QUENCHER: Cal Fire firefighter John Duvoisin uses water pressure Monday to knock down burned branches that were a safety hazard following a grass fire in Cottonwood that threatened homes.

COTTONWOOD — Two young boys playing with fireworks sparked a grass fire Monday that came dangerously close to burning a home, as well as threatening several other homes and a teen center.

The estimated two- to three-acre fire, which started around 12:15 p.m. behind Holiday Quality Foods on Gas Point Road in Cottonwood, was fanned by sporadic and gusty winds.

It quickly spread perilously close to nearby homes before it was contained at around 12:39 p.m., a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman said.

‘‘The fire moved really fast,’’ said 38-year-old Todd Van Dixon, who lives behind the Holiday Quality Foods shopping center.

Van Dixon, as well as other neighbors, grabbed shovels when they saw the smoke and fire and hurriedly built a fire line to try to protect their homes from the oncoming flames until firefighters arrived.

Capt. Calvin Ciapponi of the Cottonwood Fire Protection District said the fire burned right up to one home before firefighters were able to quench it.

‘‘It (the fire) got pretty dangerous,’’ he said. ‘‘It was pretty hot.’’

Law enforcement and fire officials interviewed the boys — 12 and 10-year-old brothers — and their aunt had been called to the scene.

The 12-year-old said that he and his brother, both students at West Cottonwood School, were playing with fireworks and didn’t mean to start the fire.

He promised he and his brother wouldn’t ever do it again.

It was not known whether the boys were held or cited for starting the fire.

In addition to Cottonwood Fire Protection District volunteers, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Anderson and West Valley firefighters helped to battle the fire.

No one was injured.