Two Fires by Rowland Keep Crews Busy Today

Two unrelated incidents led to small fires today, Sept. 17.

A truck driver from North Bay Recycling reported that his recycling load had caught fire at 7 a.m., said Novato Fire Battalion Chief Mike Hughes.

The driver was completing his rounds near Vintage Oaks when he smelled smoke and, upon investigation, found that the contents of his recycling truck had caught fire. He dumped the load in a parking area behind Ross -- preventing it from threatening structures.

"It was a pretty smart thing on his part," said Hughes.

The fire, which was likely caused by BBQ ashes smoldering in the load, was quickly brought under control by fire crews and the garbage was picked up by another North Bay Recycling truck.

Three engines were later dispersed to a fire at Redwood Boulevard and Highway 101 after a car rolled over and lit the grass on the side of the road on fire.

A driver straddling Redwood took a turn too hard, said Hughes, and rolled over into the grass area between northbound Redwood and southbound Highway 101 around 11:30 a.m.

The heat from the exhaust, after the car flipped over, lit the tall grass on the side of the road on fire, eventually lighting one-eighth of an acre.

The driver was able to walk away with only minor injuries, however, said Hughes, after bystanders who witnessed the accident broke the front windshield and helped the man out of the car.

The fire was brought under control within five minutes after three engines and an ambulance arrived. Traffic on 101 was relatively undisrupted since the accident took place near the Rowland off-ramp.