Fire Breaks Out on Hwy 78 and Haverford

Ramona's United States Forest Service Helitack-538 crew at the Haverford fire Saturday November 24.

According to Roxanne Provaznik of CAL Fire, a fire broke out on Highway 78 and Haverford on Saturday, Nov. 24. The fire started at 9:50 a.m. and was caused accidentally by a homeowner using a diamond saw for home improvements. Use of the saw started a fire on some surrounding combustibles, which spread to nearby vegetation.

The fire consumed about 30 acres and was fully contained by about 1:30 p.m. About 100 homes were threatened in the area. At various times, there were more than 20 engines, eight fire crews, three bulldozers, three airtankers, three helicopters, a water tender and more than 200 firefighters on scene.

There were two minor injuries to firefighters; one firefighter received minor injuries when his engine was hit by an airtanker drop (no further information was available on the second firefighter).

"CAL Fire asks that all property owners consider weather conditions before using power equipment on windy and dry days," says Captain Matt Streck, information officer with CAL Fire. "The simple act of mowing your lawn can start a disastrous fire on a Red Flag Warning day."