Metro Fire Emphasizes Need for Weed Control After Two Homes Were Narrowly Saved

Metro Fire Department reminds residents of the importance of "Defensible Space," after a discarded cigarette and unmanaged weeds are to blame for blazes last Friday. 

On July 12, 3:53 pm, in the area of Bannister Way and Winding Way in Fair Oaks, Metro Fire was dispatched to a grass and fence fire with two homes threatened; quick response and fire attack narrowly spared the homes, limiting damage to perimeter fencing, and some minor scorching of paint on an outbuilding. 

Citizens on the scene reported seeing a man on a bicycle riding by who had discarded a cigarette into the dry grass and minutes later smoke and fire began to show prompting the call to 911. On further investigation of the incident it was noted that one of the backyards had tall dry grass and lacked landscaping which allowed the fire to progress rapidly.

Metro Fire emphasizes, all flammable vegetation should be removed to at least 30’ from all structures and suggest replacing it with fire resistant plants.