Investigators: Mower Sparked Wildfire Near Fort Collins
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP/CBS4) — A wildfire near a heavily populated area in Colorado was sparked by a grass mower.
Investigators said Monday that metal from a lawnmower sparked the fire burned south of Fort Collins, which temporarily triggered an evacuation south of Horsetooth Reservoir on Saturday.
However Bob Smith told the Coloradoan that he saw the Spring Glade Fire start as a contractor was mowing his property. He says the contractor hit a rock and either that or one of the gearboxes overheating sparked the fire.
He says it quickly took off in the wind toward an open space area.
Investigators determined the #SpringGladeFire was caused accidentally by hot metal due to a mechanical failure in mowing equipment.
— Loveland Fire Rescue Authority (@LovelandFRA) July 24, 2017
The fire spread to about a half square mile (1.5 square kilometers) and has been 95 percent contained.
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(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)