Firefighters battle 100-acre blaze
Pleasant Grove fire consumes barn, outbuildings and artificial grass
Firefighters work to extinguish a 100-acre fire that destroyed one barn, some outbuildings and damaged part of a home on Wednesday near Pleasant Grove and Sankey roads in Pleasant Grove. The blaze also consumed a pile of artificial grass, shown above.
Amid Wednesday afternoon’s dry, windy conditions, firefighters battled a 100-acre blaze in Pleasant Grove that destroyed a barn, several outbuildings and part of a residence.
The south Sutter County fire, which was reported at 2:58 p.m., started near Pleasant Grove and Sankey roads and forced evacuations of some area homes and businesses. No injuries were reported, according to a fire official.
“Wind helped drive the fire and a flooded rice field helped contain it,” said Pleasant Grove Fire Chief Daniel Cooper.
Cooper said there were power lines down in the burned area and that the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Pacific Gas and Electric Co. crews were in the area into the evening working on the utility poles.
AJ Rizk was driving home after work and pulled over near the fire to see what was happening.
“I saw black smoke and noticed the power lines were down so I pointed it out to firefighters when they drove past,” he said.
Witnesses said smoke from the fire could be seen from as far away as Sacramento and Yuba County.
Paul Fraga owns a field that was burned in the fire as well as some artificial grass that he was planning to use for a soccer field.
“I was planning to put in a soccer field here that was going to be for at-risk kids,” Fraga said. “I got the turf and property for a really good price and did some grading and leveling.”
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