Thread: Rough shot sparks Nev. golf course fire

RENO, Nev. - A golfer's attempt to get out of the rough and back on the fairway started a grass fire that burned about 20 acres near a golf course, officials said.

The golfer had knocked his ball into dry grass beyond the course on Monday afternoon, officials said. When he tried to play back to the fairway, his club struck something that created a spark.

"He was totally honest about it," said Reno Battalion Chief Curtis Johnson.

About 50 firefighters responded to the blaze as it spread through tinder-dry grass, and engine trucks were brought in to protect nearby homes.

No buildings were damaged and no one was injured, officials said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070619/ap_on_fe_st/odd_golf_fire;_ylt=AvzoC47Xats_.L_.u_s3UyQsQE4F

yeah right!!!

he put ciggarette down to swing the club and it started a fire. What could have his club struck to start a spark? He was just scared he was gonna get charged with arson so he reached in the fire and picked up his ciggarette butt and put it in his pocket.

I golfed when it was starting to get dark and my driver made sparks. Metal+rocks=sparks.

"michaelmazid" wrote:

yeah right!!!

he put ciggarette down to swing the club and it started a fire. What could have his club struck to start a spark? He was just scared he was gonna get charged with arson so he reached in the fire and picked up his ciggarette butt and put it in his pocket.

He was probably using Fire balls......

It wouldn't surprise me a bit if it went down exactly like Mr. Mazid theorized.
Our dry season is already in full swing here and alot of people (mostly tourists) can't get it through their heads that dry sagebrush can go up in flames like it was soaked in gasoline.

They were lucky it only burnt 20 acres.....we lose thousands every year to wildfires, whether caused by idiots or nature (lightning strikes).