Firefighters respond to a third-alarm fire in Seeley

Firefighters responded to a third-alarm fire involving approximately 50 acres of vegetation near West Evan Hewes Highway in Seeley.

Imperial County Fire Department and neighboring agencies responded to the fire.
A neighbor we spoke to says the owner of the property where the fire started was burning a small pile of trash, that got out of hand and quickly spread.

With so much dry brush in the area, neighbors feared for their homes.
” I came out we were getting ready to go to the store, the flames were above the palm trees, at least 20 feet tall. I was getting ready to get everybody and take off. It was that bad, and the crazy part was that it was spreading, ” said Ezequiel Rodriguez, resident.
” The crews with their aggressive attack were able to stop it from spreading to the neighbors to the West and to the North of the location, ” said Dany Stauf , ICFD Battalion Chief.

When fire crews arrived to the fire, there were no fire hydrants nearby, but thankfully there was a canal.
” We do have canals, we have plenty of water there, once additional crews arrived on the scene we were able to establish a water source, ” said Stauf .

Vasquez just moved in the neighborhood three weeks ago, the fire was just a few feet from spreading to his house.

He said when he bought the property he noticed the excessive dry brush surrounding the property next door, a brush fire was what he feared the most.
” The fire got out of their control and it advanced to the palm trees. I know what it’s like to live in a ranch, if you’re burning trash you need to take certain precautions and have permission, you can’t just do things like that, it’s not good, ” said Vasquez.

Chief Battalion Stauf said the fire department’s top priority is putting out the fire, but they will investigate the cause.