CLEARLAKE – Grass mowing is believed to be the cause of a fire that broke out alone Dam Road Tuesday.

The vegetation fire, located in the 18000 block of Dam Road in Clearlake, was dispatched just after noon, according to radio reports.

Lake County Fire Protection District Battalion Chief George Murch said workers had been mowing the property since about 5 a.m. and were just finishing up with the fire occurred.

“They were mowing and had a rock strike of some kind,” he said.

Murch and firefighters from his district responded with a water tender and one engine, along with two Cal Fire engines and a helicopter crew, who worked together to knock out the blaze.

“It was threatening one residence and making a run for another residence,” he said.

Murch said it took about 20 minutes to contain the fire and 45 minutes to mop it up.

“It was pretty windy,” he said. “We had some gusts there about 10 miles per hour.”

With unseasonably high vegetation due to the late spring rains and the recent high winds, along with the upcoming holiday weekend, Murch urges everyone to be especially cautious.

Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, a man mowing in his backyard on Pine also sparked a small fire by using a weedeater.

For those planning to do yard work, Murch suggested completing mowing and weedeating before 10 a.m. on the hot summer days.

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