Northern California Broiler Fire sparked by employee of cannabis company mowing dry grass

An employee mowing dry grass around 2:45 p.m. July 7 started the Broiler Fire that destroyed three homes in Redwood Valley, according to a statement released by Flow Cannabis, the large cannabis operation in Mendocino County originally known as Flow Kana.

“The information we have to date indicates that the July 7, 2021, Redwood Valley fire originated on our property, after the blades of a mower, operated by our employee, struck rock, causing a spark,” the statement attributed to Jarom Fawson, president of Flow Cannabis Co., reads. “Words cannot express how truly sorry we are for the stress, anxiety, fear, and loss that our Redwood Valley neighbors have endured as a result. Nor can words express how truly grateful we are to the first responders who were immediately on the scene and who, through their heroic and coordinated efforts, prevented further devastation.”

The fire was first reported around 2:45 p.m. July 7 in the area behind the Broiler Steak House on Uva Drive and described as about five to 10 acres in size with a moderate rate of spread and threatening structures. According to scanner traffic, the possible cause of the fire was reported as a lawn mower.

The fire quickly closed the intersection of Uva Drive and West Road, and soon residents of the Vineyard Oaks area, including a mobile home park, were evacuated. Around 4 p.m., the fire had reportedly jumped West Road and was heading toward Calpella, with evacuations expanded again and emergency personnel going door-to-door to notify residents.

Around 4:35 p.m., mutual aid was requested from most fire departments in Mendocino County, including from the Mendocino Coast. As of 6:30 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the fire’s forward progress had been stopped at 80 acres.

Cal Fire reported on Friday that a total of nine structures had been destroyed, including three homes, and that two structures had been damaged.

The statement from Fawson, which according to a company representative was originally shared on Facebook, also declares that: “We are actively reaching out to the impacted families as well as local community organizations to assist with recovery efforts and community healing, including The Humane Society of Inland Mendocino, the Fire Safe Council of Mendocino County, and Redwood Valley Emergency Fund. We are dedicated to keeping our employees, neighbors and local community safe. We are mindful and vigilant of the wildfire danger that exists in our community and committed to working closely with fire officials to improve our current fire prevention program and ensure that, moving forward, we are at the forefront of wildfire

Cal Fire, which shared command duties in the Broiler Fire incident with the Redwood Valley-Calpella Volunteer Fire Department, still lists the official cause of the blaze as “under investigation.”