brush fire

By Guy McCarthy

Redlands firefighters responded to a brush fire today that scorched a field of long, dry grass on San Bernardino Avenue next to Highway 30. Initial estimates had five to 10 acres burned.



No structures were threatened. Emergency dispatchers began receiving calls about the burning field at 12:24 p.m., according to the California Highway Patrol.



Firefighters set grass ablaze themselves to consume fuel before the active fire reached San Bernardino Avenue. Winds were light but flames leaped 10 to 15 feet at times and generated plenty of radiant heat.



The National Weather Service had issued a red flag warning for critical fire weather conditions in inland valleys and the San Bernardino National Forest earlier today. Temperatures hovered just over 100 degrees in the Redlands area while the fire burned.



Authorities later said the land owner had hired a contractor to do brush abatement. A disc-bladed cutter apparently struck a rock and ignited the blaze in dry conditions.

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