Authorities say a wind-whipped grass fire that devoured between 10 and 15 acres off Fischer Store Road west of Wimberley Saturday was started by someone mowing a dry field.
The mower “hit a piece of flint or something.” The person doing the mowing, Wimberley Fire Chief Carroll Czichos said, “turned around and looked and about 100 feet behind him was fire.”
Czichos said the fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. and firefighters brought it under control in about five hours. Crews stayed on the scene another couple of hours to finish “mopping up” hot spots and some personnel stayed onsite until around midnight “because the wind was still blowing.”
“It was a very long narrow strip,” Czichos said. In addition to Wimberley firefighters, personnel from North Hays, Buda and Kyle were on site to assist.
“If you’re mowing, make sure you got someone to stand there watching and that you have water, especially if you are working with something like a brush hog.”
–Carroll Czichos, Wimberley Fire Chief
Czichos noted that all of Hays County is currently under a burn ban, and that not only outlaws outdoor burning but also places additional cautions on other activities. “If you’re mowing, make sure you got someone stand there watching and that you have water, especially if you are working with something like a brush hog.”
He said mowing green grass doesn’t present as much of a problem but people mowing pastures and hay baling should always be extra careful. “Anything you hit with a mower will cause a spark.”
To report a fire, call 911.
