UPDATE: Firefighters Save Santa Rosa Homes From Advancing Grass Fire
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- Crews quickly contained a grass fire Sunday afternoon, halting the flames in the backyards of several threatened homes, officials said.
The Santa Rosa Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 11:35 a.m. to reports of a grass fire in a field between homes in a neighborhood on Ridley Ave. near Guerneville Rd.
"The first unit arrived in under four minutes and found approximately a quarter of an acre of dried grass burning in a field behind several buildings," the department said in a news release.
But as the fire crews were setting up their lines, the wind shifted.
"The wind increased and changed direction, which pushed the fire to the north and threatened eleven homes and an apartment building," the department said.
Additional resources were called it. At the height of the firefight, there was 9 engines and 43 firefighters on the scene.
Firefighters gained access to backyards of the threatened homes and protected the residences.
"The fire burned one outbuilding and the fence behind several of the homes, but none of the homes were damaged," the department said.
The fire charred 4.5 acres and was brought under control in approximately 30 minutes.
Officials said the blaze was sparked by a small tractor that was mowing dry grass in the field.