Passing car lights grass

By Tania Martin
MACCLESFIELD fire brigade has warned residents against driving cars through long grass on total fire ban days.
This comes after the fire brigade was called to a grass fire in Spielers Road, Macclesfield, on Friday, 23 December.
Shortly after 4pm the Country Fire Authority was called out to the fire, with units from Macclesfield, Emerald and Monbulk attending.
Macclesfield CFA captain Sharon Merit said the fire was caused by someone driving through the long grass on a hot day which had been declared a total fire ban.
Capt Merit said the heat from the car engine ignited the grass.
She said such an incident was not uncommon on extremely hot days and can be caused by grass getting trapped in the exhaust and motor system of the car and igniting.
“There is a certain amount of risk involve in driving a car through long grass and on total fire ban days high risk activities should be avoided,” she said.
Capt Merit said the fire was extinguished within 15 minutes of the fire brigades arriving on the scene.
She said a car worth $6000 was destroyed and half an acre of grass that was to be cut for hay was lost in the fire.
Capt Merit said it was a good idea to always carry a fire extinguisher when working on a farm in hot dry conditions.