On Saturday, September 26th at 2:31pm, Briceland Fire responded to a report of a vegetation fire in the area of Ferran Rd. in Briceland.
First on scene was Fire Captain Roomets, who assumed IC and gave a report on conditions to the Fortuna Emergency Command Center. At this point, approximately half an acre of forest and grass were on fire, with tree torching. Additional firefighters arrived swiftly with our Type 6 Engine 5446 to find flames spreading aggressively from the landscape into a residence. It was confirmed that no one was in the home and CalFire engines and air support assisted to stop the blaze from spreading further into the wildland. Unfortunately, the intensity of the fire in the structure was too great for firefighting efforts to save.
The Flat Fire was contained late that evening at just over 1 acre. The cause of the fire may have been related to a initial report of a power tool malfunction, but is still under investigation. Briceland VFD would like to remind people that using tools outdoors can ignite dry vegetation. It is always recommended to have a fire extinguisher or water hose ready at hand to avoid sparking a wildfire.