THOUSAND OAKS : Firecrackers Ignite 2-Acre Hillside Blaze
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Several youths lobbed firecrackers onto a Thousand Oaks hillside, sparking a brush fire Monday afternoon that burned two acres before it was extinguished by about 25 firefighters, authorities said.
The fire began around 4:20 p.m. on a grass-covered hill on the northeast corner of the intersection of Avenida De Los Arboles and Parkview Drive. It was reported extinguished at 4:52 p.m., after a helicopter made several passes dropping water, and ground crews kept the fire from spreading.
Steve Matsuura, a firefighter based at a Westlake station, said flames came within 100 to 120 feet of a half-dozen houses near the intersection of Avenida De Los Arboles and Parkview Drive.
He said the youths were launching the firecrackers with a large slingshot normally used for water balloons.
Matsuura said the youths were detained Monday evening for questioning.
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