If it wasn’t for the quick actions of a local construction crew, a small grass fire in Langford could have spread very quickly.
Langford Fire Rescue was called to a construction site on Echo Valley Drive – off of Bear Mountain Parkway – at around 3:30 p.m. Monday.
“They were cutting some Rebar with a grinder and the sparks from what they were cutting ignited the dry grass,” said Assistant Chief Lance Caven. “It was totally accidental … they weren’t doing anything malicious, they were just trying to get some work done.”
The workers noticed the fire right away and were able to contain the blaze with tools on the site.
“They did a really good job of stopping it from from spreading,” Caven said.
While he noted the fire was almost completely extinguished when the department arrived, they still doused some hot spots and soaked the area in water. “Sometimes people might be a little embarrassed but it’s important … Don’t hesitate to call,” he said.
While some fires may appear to be out, they can still flare up later and Caven noted the department has special tools that allows them to monitor the site.
For crews that do have to do work outside, he suggested soaking the area with water first or moving to an area with concrete or non-flammable materials. In any case, he added, workers and homeowners should have fire extinguishers and water hoses ready if they’re doing any work that could result in a spark.
“It’s been dry for a long time now and with the recent heat it’s really ramping up the chances of a small fire spreading quickly. It would really surprise people,” Caven said. “The grass and the bushes are so volatile.”
But most importantly, he noted, if anyone sees smoke or fire, they need to call 911 right away as the faster crews arrive, the better chance they have of preventing a fire from getting out of hand.
