Monterey County Regional Fire District responded to a report of a grass fire on Old Stage Road on Thursday afternoon. Smoke was already visible as fire personnel left the Chualar Station just after 3:00 p.m. When they arrived on scene, the fire was burning in an open field on the east side of Old Stage Road across from the Spence Road intersection. The fire area was surrounded on two sides by a road and an open field, which enabled quick containment of the fire on the other two sides despite the customary afternoon winds.
A total of 12 fire personnel with 2 fire engines, 2 water tenders and one chief officer from Monterey County Regional, as well as 1 fire engine from the City of Salinas. The fire was located in an area where an automatic aid agreement is in effect with the City of Salinas fire department, who responded from their station on Rider Avenue. Once the fire was contained, the Rancho Cielo Wildland Fuels Crew was requested to assist in creating a fuel break around the fire and helping ensure hot spots were extinguished.
The Monterey County Regional fire investigator requested Pacific Gas & Electric personnel to examine a power pole at the edge of where the fire started. The cause of the fire was not yet confirmed pending the arrival of PG&E representatives. No structures were damaged or threatened during the incident. No injuries were reported.
The fire was located in an area known as “Local Responsibility Area” or “LRA”. Local fire agencies have primary responsibility for wildland fire protection in their jurisdiction’s LRA, and may request mutual aid from CAL FIRE or other fire agencies if warranted.
As the dry, warm days of summer are underway, property owners should continue to mow tall, dry grass around their homes and along driveways to create a defensible space of 100 feet and maintain clear emergency access. Use of mowers and other lawn equipment should be limited to the morning hours when the risk of fire started by sparks is lessened. Information regarding defensible space requirements can be found at www.mcrfd.org/prevention.html.
