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Brush Cleanup Helps Homes Escape Fire

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A 5-acre fire that burned grass and eucalyptus trees in a Simi Valley neighborhood Tuesday afternoon stayed clear of houses, thanks in part to earlier brush-clearance efforts by homeowners, according to the Ventura County Fire Department.

The fire, which began about 1:50 p.m. behind the Sinaloa Golf Course near Irvine Road, started when a spark from a lawn mower ignited the dry grass, said Fire Department spokeswoman Sandi Wells. A 15-mph breeze pushed the fire, which burned in a row of mature eucalyptus trees.

“There was concern because the [debris] created by the trees can be deep, and sparks from the fire can hide in it and be hard to find,” Wells said.

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More than 80 firefighters, including hand crews from the California Department of Forestry, fought the blaze. The fire crept near homes with shake roofs, but recent weed-clearing by residents helped the firefighters, Wells said.

There were no injuries as a result of the fire, which was out at 3 p.m.

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