The Largest Wildland Fire In California History Was Sparked By A Spark Caused By Hammer.
On Thursday, the state fire protection reported that the largest wildfire in Californian history was sparked by a hot fragment from a property owner hammering a metal stake in the ground.
The Ranch Fire broke up back on 27th July 2018 and burned more than 410,000 acres in Colusa, Glen, Lake, and Mendocino counties. The fire killed a firefighter.
More than 280 structures were damaged
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection reported that more than 280 structures were damaged.
The fire was a part of a larger blaze called Mendocino Complex and was caused by a hot metal fragment landing in a receptive fuel bed. The agency revealed that the spark came from a hammer driving a metal stake into the ground.
Filed against the property owner
There are no charges filed against the property owner. Likewise, no violations of state law have been identified.
The property owner told the officials that he was putting a shade cloth that had blown down while disturbing an underground nest of yellow jackets.
As per an investigation report, he is allergic to bee stings. Quickly after the insects stopped swarming, he hammered in the stake to plug the hole.
Tried to use a PVC water line which was connected to the tanks
The property owner soon after smelled smoke and saw the fire in the vegetation. He used a shovel and water hose to put off the fire, but the heat crossed the line restricting water flow.
He even tried to use a PVC water line which was connected to the tanks, but could not get enough pressure to reach nearby the fire.
The fire, which started in the community of Upper Lake
The fire, which started in the community of Upper Lake in Mendocino Country, was fueled by dry vegetation, high temperatures, and strong winds.
As per the investigation, the temperature was 100 degrees.
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