FINLEY, Wash. — A man was mowing dry vegetation in his pasture caused a large brush fire on Monday morning. Fire officials said he was mowing it down in order to prevent or contain a brush fire if it were to start. Instead, they said, his mower sparked a flame and it grew quickly.

“It appears the property owner was trying to do some wildland fire fuel mitigation with a lawn mower,” said BCFD #1 Fire Chief Lonnie Click.

Local agencies, including KFD, RFD and BCFD #1 contained the fire at the farm off Bryson Brown Road.

There was a threat to the farms and homes, but the teams eliminated it with their quick work containing it.

There were no injuries, according to Click. The homeowner told KAPP-KVEW staff he was glad the fire didn’t hurt anyone.

Click estimated that the fire burned about four or five acres. He said it didn’t destroy much but the property owner’s lawn mower.

Click said there was no malicious intention behind the fire.

“If the grass is mowed down to the ground, then it doesn’t seem to spread quite as fast, and the flame links aren’t as long. It reduces the fire behavior,” Click said. “He had the right intent in mind all the way, 100%. Probably a few weeks too late.”

READ: Fire crews battle brush fire in Yakima County overnight

COPYRIGHT 2022 BY YAKTRINEWS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.