Cal Fire warns of fire risks from lawn care activities
Cal Fire emphasizes that lawnmowers are designed for use on green lawns and not on dead or dry vegetation
– In July, Cal Fire responded to multiple wildland fires caused by mowing, weed-eating, and disking activities. To prevent such incidents, Cal Fire advises residents to follow safety guidelines.
Cal Fire recommends that mowing, weed eating, and disking occur before 10 a.m. and never on windy days. It is also essential to have a water source available when engaging in these activities.
California Public Resource Code 4442 mandates the use of spark arresters on internal combustion engines. Cal Fire emphasizes that lawnmowers are designed for use on green lawns and not on dead or dry vegetation. Using a lawn mower on dead or dry vegetation can lead to the blades striking rocks or metal objects, potentially igniting a fire.
Weed eaters can also cause fires when used in dead or dry vegetation due to metal blades, wire in the string, or the heat generated by the motor or exhaust. Similarly, tractor disking in dead or dry vegetation can ignite a fire if the metal disks strike rocks.
For more information, visit www.ReadyForWildfire.org.
