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Show Children blamed for six hour battle with brush fire By EDEN BODILY NORTH SALT LAKE Ten acres of oak and sagebrush burned Thursday in a fire started by children playing with matches. The children's identities are not known. Approximately 25 South Davis and 12 Bountiful firefighters were called in just before noon when a Woods Cross police officer saw smoke. Because of limited access to the area and gusty southern winds, it took nearly six hours to contain the blaze. One firefighter suffered heat exhaustion and was treated and released. Others sustained minor injuries in-juries such as smoke inhalation and heat blisters, Fire Chief Jerry Graham said. The fire didn't reach any structures, struc-tures, but several hoses were burned and an additional $500 worth of fire equipment was damaged. Several , nearby residents complained of smoke damage to their homes. Graham said it could have been worse, however. "Another couple of weeks and a little hotter weather, and we could have been really out of control," he said. He also said that such fires could be avoided by better supervision of children. "Parents need to be aware of what their children are doing," he said. "Obviously they can't watch wat-ch them all the time, and kids will play with matches. "But one of the biggest reasons we have fires in Utah is children playing with matches." Graham said parents can help by stressing fire safety in the home, "especially in areas where we have wild lands so close to the residences. ' ' And whatever happens, Graham and other firefighters will be ready. "This was just one of those situations situa-tions that's what we're here for," he said "And we covered it." |