News - Man tries to create fire buffer, sets blaze instead

News - sacbee.com:
Man tries to create fire buffer, sets blaze instead -

"A man trying to create a fire buffer around his house actually set a 47-acre blaze Wednesday afternoon near Jackson Highway and Sloughouse Road, officials said.

The man was mowing his lawn at about 3:44 p.m. when sparks grew into a fire, said Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Capt. Jeff Lynch.

Lynch gives the man had the right idea, but did not execute it well.

'We do commend him for his efforts,' he said. 'But anyone who's going to create a defensible space needs to do it in the early morning when it's cool. And they need to have a fire extinguisher or garden hose nearby.'

Lynch said 49 Metro firefighter and a group of Cal Fire fighters knocked down the blaze, with help of an F2 air tanker dropping retardant. The two-alarm fire caused no injuries and burned an outbuilding.

Lynch said fire officials urge people to create at least 100 feet of defensible space around their homes by ridding it of all dry vegetation."