Machinery blamed for SWFL brush fires

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FORT MYERS, Fla. Even simple machines can cause brush fires.

A Fort Myers lawn service worker was mowing a yard earlier this week on the 1000 block of Barcelona Avenue when the grass beneath the lawnmower caught fire.

“He had been edging here and didn’t even notice a fire,” homeowner Madeleine Doran said.

The worker was able to quickly put out the small fire with water.

“It’s really frightening, because if it kept going, it could have jumped the curve and gotten closer to my house,” Doran said.

An ATV was the cause of an 11-acre blaze that threatened homes in Lehigh Acres last week, according to the Florida Forest Service. Officials controlled the fire and no homes were destroyed.

The Florida Forest Service urges residents to avoid operating vehicles and heavy machinery in areas where grass can ignite, and to make sure any machinery used near grass is properly maintained.

Residents should also keep a fire extinguisher around when using machinery, the forest service said.

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