Firefighters stayed busy as several fires broke out in Fresno Friday

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — Several grass fires kept firefighters busy across central California on Friday.

“It looks like we're going to have a long hot summer,” said Chief Timothy Henry of the North Central Fire Protection District. “We’re going to chase a lot of these fires.”

In the morning, Fresno firefighters extinguished a vegetation fire that threatened homes on Floradora and Marks Avenue in west-central Fresno.

Fire officials said that while the investigation is still ongoing, it appears the fire started along the road.

Then in the afternoon, at Belmont and Valentine Avenue, about a mile from that incident, firefighters put out another vegetation fire.

Cell phone video shows the flames destroying several vehicles on the property.

Although the fire did not damage any buildings, it still burned approximately two acres.

“This time of year, when the grass starts to dry, it moves quickly,” said Battalion Chief Lance Morton of the North Central Fire Protection District.

At Plumas and Florence Avenue in southwest Fresno, Fresno firefighters also took quick action to extinguish a vegetation fire.

The fire broke out shortly after 4:30 p.m.

Crackling flames could be heard as smoke covered the area.

“It took our firefighters about 20 minutes to get the fire under control,” said Fresno Fire Department firefighter Rob Lee. “It was about three acres.”

As fire season picks up, crews are preparing.

“Throughout the year, our minimum response to a wildland fire is to use an engine,” Lee said. “During this time of year we have two engines in initial service.”

Meanwhile, Fresno County firefighters said they responded to more than 10 grass fires in recent days, which burned more than 1,200 acres in total.

“We're trying to get them as quickly as possible,” said Fresno County Fire Battalion Chief Seth Brown.

“Then when we arrive on scene, we typically dispatch two fire engines to a reported grass fire. If they need more resources, we are trained to request more resources immediately.”

Fresno County firefighters said their stations are strategically placed.

“They are based on where our incidents have historically occurred most frequently,” Brown said.

With fire season already here, firefighters are urging you to cut any dry grass around your home. They insist that you cut the grass with a weed eater or mulcher.

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