Firefighters contain 30-acre grass fire near Tulare Outlets that sent heavy smoke over Hwy. 99
Tulare firefighters have contained a large blaze that sent plumes of smoke hanging over Highway 99.
Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, a 30-acre grass fire erupted near the Tulare Outlets on a vacant lot on Retherford Street, Tulare Fire Marshal Ryan Leonardo said. Crews responded quickly to the fire that burned along Highway 99.
Within an hour, firefighters had the blaze under control.
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"Obviously, there was some struggle between the highway, the roadway and the outlet mall, but personnel began a fire attack pretty quickly to contain it away from the roadway," Leonardo said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, he added. Crews will remain in the area dousing hot spots and mopping up through the evening.
Tulare County Fire Department sent an engine to cover the city while city crews battled the grass fire.
The incident is a reminder that property owners should begin clearing their land of dead grass, Leonardo said.
"We want to remind the public to begin abatement efforts with the fire season coming up," he said. "The lot next to the fire had recently been disced, so it ran out of fuel as it approached the outlets."
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For more information about weed abatement programs in Tulare, visit tulare.ca.gov/government/departments/fire/prevention-and-programs
This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: 30-acre wildfire near Tulare Outlets sends thick smoke over Highway 99
