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Mowing Saves Fairfield Homes From Fire Caused By Mowing

FAIRFIELD (CBS13) — A fast-moving four-alarm fire in Fairfield came dangerously close to dozens of homes after a crew mowing fields sparked the blaze.

Allison Kane-Kochekali took one look and knew it was time to go.

"I looked out and there were flames coming, so I realized I better get out of the house," she said. "It was so close, I thought the house was going to burn."

The fire that started just before 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday on a hillside near Waterman Boulevard and Interstate 80 came close, but stopped like it hit a wall, just feet from dozens of homes.

Valerie Alenza shot video of smoke billowing over her neighborhood. She raced home to help her husband round up their dogs.

"I couldn't even see the house," she said. "You couldn't see any of these houses it was pretty much just all engulfed in smoke."

Neighbors say their homeowners' association mowed the grass behind their homes just last week, which may have saved the subdivision.

Ironically, a crew hired by the city doing some mowing up on the hill sparked the fire.

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