Killing Weeds Ended in Tragic Fire in Riverside

A country Transportation Department worker had been sent to Riverside neighborhoods to eliminate the weeds that were sprouting up through the concrete. While he was getting rid of the unattractive plants, his mower ran over a piece of barbed wire, which ignited the machine. The sparks from the metal wire ignited the weeds which then caused flames to lick, and later consume, homes in Riverside County. The fire department officials are still investigating the situation. Allegedly, the man who caused the fire was working to reduce the weeds to lower the possibility of a brush fire.

At least one Riverside home has been scorched in the horrific incident. The fire has spread across 350 acres at present, and many homeowners and their families have been evacuated while the fire department tries to quench the flames. Three fire department workers have been sent to the hospital with burn wounds, an ankle wound, and heat exhaustion. The news helicopters have aired footage which showed a large home being engulfed in the flames on a hillside. Most residents have been cautious to remove flammable brush from near their homes, but this house was surrounded by the dry vegetation.

One resident in Riverside was taken to the hospital with a burn on his shoulder after he tried to defend his neighbor’s house with a garden hose. The men who have been injured in this fire may choose to litigate the Transportation Department and the worker who caused the fire because of his negligence to avoid the barbed wire on the ground. If you have been harmed in a fire and the blaze was set by someone else, then that person may be responsible for your injury. By taking that defendant to court, you may be able to obtain monetary damages for your injuries. Talk to a personal injury attorney in Los Angeles for more information.