Three juveniles admitted to playing with fireworks that sparked a fast-moving fire in northwest Visalia Saturday afternoon.
At 3:21 p.m., Visalia firefighters responded to a report of a grass fire in a field at Doe Avenue and El Cajon Street.
A quarter of an acre was on fire and the blaze was moving at a average speed when firefighters arrived. But, when winds picked up to 12 to 15 mph, the fire spread quickly and threatened houses and fence lines, according to a department news release. Additional response units were called to assist, totaling five engines and 15 firefighters.
Ten houses had damage to the back fence line and some trees, but there was no damage to the homes themselves. The estimated damage cost is $5,000.