Lawn mower causes large California wildfire

A forest fire in NorCal that destroyed 9 buildings appears to have been started by a lawnmower belonging to a cannabis company. California cannabis company Flow Cannabis released a statement last Friday saying a lawnmower operated on its property sparked wildfire in Mendocino County on Wednesday. The fire had triggered evacuations and destroyed nine buildings and damaged two. The company's president Jarom Fawsom said in a statement shared by North Bay reporter Sarah Stierch on Twitter that the July 7 fire started near Redwood Valley on the company's property. Stierch tweeted, "FLOW CANNABIS EMPLOYEE STARTED #BROILERFIRE WHILE MOWING. The #BroilerFire in Redwood Valley, #Mendocino County's #BroilerFire destroyed 9 buildings, including homes. A Flow employee was mowing at 2:44 pm when the mower hit one Hit rocks and started a wildfire. #OnlyYou " The fire occurred after the blades of a mower operated by an employee hit a rock and caused a spark. "Words cannot express our sincere sorry for the stress, anxiety, fear and loss our neighbors in Redwood Valley have suffered as a result," the Fawsom statement said. "Words cannot express how sincerely grateful we are to the first responders, who were on the spot immediately and prevented further devastation through their heroic and coordinated efforts." Don Dale, a director of the Redwood Valley-Calpella Fire Department that had the fire under control, said the department must complete its official investigation before it can announce the ultimate cause of the fire. The fire broke out near Uva Drive and Finne Road, southwest of Redwood Valley, at 2:44 p.m., according to a report from Cal Fire.