Residents along Clarence and Shaw Roads continue working to control a grass fire minutes after fire trucks from Peachland Fire and Rescue Service arrived. (Dave Preston photo)
by Dave Preston
A grass fire sparked by an industrial lawnmower was brought under control by residents Monday.
“I noticed a Bobcat operating behind my house,” said Ryan Killick, who lives on the corner of Shaw Road and Clarence Road.
Killick said he went into his back yard and noticed, about 100 feet from the Bobcat, a fire spreading up a hill.
The Bobcat had a lawn moving attachment on its front end and a contractor was using it to clear an empty lot.
“I went over to the other side of the fire,” said Killick. “I turned on a couple of hoses and attempted to put the flames out.”
Several other neighbours brought out garden hoses from across Clarence Road and others brought shovels to the fire.
By the time the first fire truck arrived, the assembled voluntary crew of resident firefighters had the grass fire under control.
The mower likely ran over a rock and that sent off a spark, according to Assistant Fire Chief James Springer.
- Excited
- Informed
- Amused
- Bored
- Sad
- Angry
I saw the fire trucks and the smoke as I was driving back from shopping yesterday p.m. and couldn’t help thinking: Why am I not surprised.
This property has been an accident waiting to happen ever since I’ve lived in the area and that has been almost a decade now. The landowner (a developer) almost never does anything to keep the grass under control until it is long enough to get lost in. I’m told that the only time he ever cuts the grass is when the Council Bylaw officer orders him to do something about it. Usually about the second week of August based on goings on in previous years. True or not, I don’t know – but worth mentioning maybe that when the guys were out a week ago using a lawnmower (!!!!!!) to try and control the foot high weeds (hilarious), the Bylaw officer’s car was parked next to them at one point keeping an eye on proceedings.
Presumably the effort was viewed as “not good enough” and that is why one of the locals was out there yesterday with a larger piece of equipment trying to do things properly. A shame it backfired on him.
If you think I’m overreacting, it might be worth pointing out that this is the SECOND time this particular property has had a grass fire that had to be attended by the local fire brigade. The first time was about 5 or 6 years ago down at the Huston end of the development and before the houses were built at the bottom of this area.
Will the developer be charged the cost of putting out these fires since they are only occurring because of his failure to keep the grass cut to a reasonable length? Probably not. Will he be liable if the neighbouring houses catch fire next time this happens as it almost certainly will? Again, probably not.
In the meantime, one has to wonder why the District doesn’t get on top of this landowner BEFORE the grass gets to this dangerous length.