A large blaze ignited in the area of Lander and Linwood avenues Thursday afternoon prompted a multi-agency response to stop the spread as it charred about one acre of land and burned a multitude of vehicles, the Turlock Fire Department reported.
Two firefighters sustained minor injuries in battling the flames, said Turlock Fire Capt. Jason Bernard. Both were transported to a local hospital for treatment of the burns and were released that day.
At 12:12 p.m. Thursday the Turlock Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Lander and Linwood avenues for a report of a grass fire. At the same time Turlock Rural Fire Department responded to a potential structure fire in the same area.
“Both responding departments found the fires to be one and the same,” TFD said in a statement on Facebook.
Firefighters arriving at the scene found the flames quickly consuming the dry grass and extending to multiple vehicles, an RV, and an outbuilding in the 200 block of Montana Avenue.
The fire was upgraded to a working fire response which brought the rest of Turlock’s fire units and other shared resources as well as two division chiefs.
It took the firefighters about one hour and 25 minutes to bring the fire under control and remained at the site for several hours for overhaul. It had burned a swath of approximately one acre and destroyed and/or damaged 22 vehicles, one RV and an outbuilding. The damage was estimated at $80,000, Bernard said.
One occupant was displaced because of the fire and was given assistance from the American Red Cross.
Animal control responded to check on one horse that was in the area of the fire. It was not harmed in the fire.
Through the resource sharing agreement five additional engines, one quint and one battalion chief along with engines from Turlock Rural and Keyes Fire responded to the scene.
In the summer the perils of fighting large fires are coupled with sweltering heat, which can be equally dangerous.
“During the summer heat, hydration is a daily topic,” Bernard said. “We know that we will be out in extreme conditions so we have to be prepared as much as possible. During and after fires we have rehabilitation centers set up for our people.”
The fire started outdoors and is under investigation by the Stanislaus County Fire Investigation Unit. Anyone with information regarding the fire is asked to please contact the Stanislaus County Fire Investigation Unit at 209-525-5537.
