Folsom Grass Fire Being Called Suspicious

FOLSOM (CBS13) -- A fire that burned 10 acres in Folsom and came close to damaging homes and a PG&E substation that could be

Smoke swirled above a PG&E plant that was surrounded by homes, giving neighbors cause for alarm.

"We were nervous," said Tracy Towns, who lives near the fire.

Residents in the area say they heard bottle rockets right before the fire started.

"That was the first thing that crossed my mind, because we hear those quite a bit," said Towns.

"There are unconfirmed reports of bottle rockets in the area where the fire started. Crews are right now investigating the fire as a suspicious fire," said a fire official.

Crews say the fire that scorched 10 acres could have been disastrous because of the hot, dry conditions and because of gates on service roads firefighters had to cut their way through to access the fire.

Residents say they heard bottle rockets in the area of Oak Avenue Parkway and Kennerly Way before a fire broke out.

Firefighters were delayed fighting the fire by locked fences blocking access roads near the fire.

"The grass is very, very dry; tinder dry. Fire danger is high and we have to be very, very conscientious of fire, especially around the Folsom area because we have a lot of homes," said the official.

The fire is out, but firefighters are still mopping up hotspots. PG&E personnel are also at the scene assessing any possible damage.

Police ask anyone who saw anything suspicious to call them at 984-2280.