NORTH HIGHLANDS, Calif. — 5:00 p.m. Update:
The homeowner tells ABC10 that he was mowing starting around 10 a.m. Saturday, eventually hitting a dirt pile with his riding lawn mower. Shortly after that, he heard crackling and spotted a fire in that area. He tried stomping it out with his foot, he said, but the fire was spreading too quickly. He drove back to his house to call 911. In the span of about a minute, he said, the fire had made its way across his large yard and right up against the lean-to attached to his garage.
Ultimately, the family lost a shed and the lean-to. The garage was damaged. The house wasn't touched by the flames, though the firefighting process left some damage there.
The family of six said they're grateful to the Sac Metro firefighters for their quick response and are relieved their house was spared.
The homeowner said he was mowing the lawn to prevent a fire - and said he recommends anyone mowing to bring a fire extinguisher with them. He said he thinks that would have stopped the initial flames.
CAL FIRE recommends people mow their lawns before 10 a.m. on hot, windy days, although there was no red flag warning in effect in Sacramento County on Saturday.
3:20 p.m. Update:
A large outbuilding and a shed were destroyed in a fire that burned feet away from a neighborhood of homes in North Highlands Saturday, officials with the Sacramento Metro Fire District said.
Multiple homes and mobile homes were threatened by the fire, first reported at 1:40 p.m. on Lynhurst Way. Firefighters said they were able to save all neighboring homes.
Original Story:
A Saturday vegetation fire threatened homes in North Highlands, the Sacramento Metro Fire District said in a Tweet.
The fire was first reported at 1:40 p.m. Saturday, on a stretch of vegetation surrounded by homes on Lynhurst Way in North Highlands.
At least one outbuilding burned during the fire, officials with Sacramento Metro Fire District said.
A helicopter was making water drops in the area to slow the spread of the blaze.
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