The Record Searchlight (Redding, California)

RED BLUFF, Calif. —Two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion Thursday while battling a 1-acre grass fire that broke out at an industrial park near the Red Bluff Airport and destroyed a double-wide mobile home.

The firefighters were treated at the scene and did not require hospitalization, a fire department spokesman said. The fire, which was fanned by strong winds, started about 12:30 p.m. in a planter box outside the Sort and Sand business on Bidwell Street, said Fire Chief Gerry Gray.

The strong winds carried the flames south onto Fiberglass Industries Inc. property on Vista Way and ignited fiberglass septic tanks, which produced a large column of black smoke that was visible for miles.

The smoke prompted a smoke advisory and lockdown of the Vista Middle School.

Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from reaching flammable chemicals used to manufacture fiberglass, and the blaze was finally contained about 2 p.m.

The fire remains under investigation. A damage estimate was not available.

Red Bluff firefighters were assisted by Tehama County Fire and California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection personnel.

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