50 Acres Burn as Wind Spreads Blaze
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Winds of up to 25 mph fanned a 50-acre brush fire across a field north of Potrero Road and Rancho Dos Vientos in Newbury Park about 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, fire officials said.
The two-alarm fire quickly spread, but was under control by about 4 p.m., officials said.
The fire began in a pile of grass clippings and weeds gathered by construction crews to later be used as mulch. Rains soaked the pile and recent hot weather dried it up.
“It got wet, got hot and you had spontaneous combustion,” Public Information Officer Joe Luna said.
About 70 firefighters and 10 engines fought the blaze as two helicopters dropped water. Three ground crews created a fire break, using a bulldozer and hand tools to cut away vegetation.
Crews remained on the scene into the night to monitor the area for hot spots.
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