‘Gopher Bomb’ Likely Cause of California Brush Fire

Seven acres burned in Contra Costa County

 

 

BRENTWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A bomb used to get rid of gophers may have started a brush fire in a Northern California suburb, authorities told the East Bay Times.

The fire that started about 2:30 p.m. Friday burned seven acres in Brentwood in Contra Costa County, Firefighters put out the blaze two hours later, the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District said.

If the fire is determined to have been started by a gopher bomb, it would be reminiscent of a scene in the 1980 movie “Caddyshack” in which a frustrated groundskeeper played by Bill Murray used dynamite in a futile effort to get rid of the burrowing rodents.

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No injuries were reported in connection with the fire.

“We would like to take the opportunity to remind everyone to be mindful of their conditions and this early season fire should be a reminder of what can happen very quickly,” the East Contra Costa fire district wrote on Facebook, calling the blaze accidental.

All contents © copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Seven acres burned in Contra Costa County     BRENTWOOD, Calif. (AP) — A bomb used to get rid of gophers may have started a brush fire in a Northern California suburb, authorities told the East Bay Times. The fire that started about 2:30 p.m. Friday burned seven acres in Brentwood in Contra Costa County, […]

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